English To Chinese Symbol - Tattoo Mistakes To Avoid

A TEENAGER who paid £90 to have his arm tattoed with Chinese characters got a shock when he learned the message read:

'At the end of the day, this is an ugly boy.'

Hairdresser Lee Becks thought he had Mandarin for 'Love, honour and obey' etched into his skin.

The 18-year-old found out that he had been tricked when he saw the effect it had on a woman serving at a Chinese take-away.

'At first, she said something about me making people laugh and talked about a crown,' he said.

'But then I realised she was really saying clown, not crown. The young woman blushed and was very reluctant to translate for me. Then she admitted what it really said.'

A 'totally mortified' Mr Becks went back to the tattoo parlour in Southend, the next day - only to find it had closed.

He added: 'I suspect the tattooist knew he was closing and just wanted to get his own back for some reason. I always wanted a tattoo and the design looked great. Now I am stuck with it but have to keep it covered up.'

When he dared show off his arm at a nightclub, a group of Chinese girls came up - and burst out laughing. Even his friends have been finding it hard to keep straight faces.

His employer, Gary Doyle, said: 'He's a bit sensitive about the tattoos - they look very trendy if you don't know what they really mean. I don't think Lee stands much of a chance with any attractive young Chinese lady he may meet.'

Mr Becks plans to spend £600 to have the tattoo removed by laser.

As published in Metro.

Don't go to one of the free "translated by computer software" sites. It's NOT free if it ends up costing you in embarrassment and ridicule. I do understand how you feel because we are all watching our budgets nowadays. I was doing the same but getting more and confused as all these free tattoo designs that supposedly said the same thing look different! Finally I realized that a computer or an untrained person could not give me what I needed.

For me, that was to know with absolute certainty that I was not going to shame myself or my family by getting an inappropriate Chinese symbol. It was harder for me because I'm supposed to know better! But I don't live in China and I don't speak Chinese - and I couldn't discuss it with my grandparents.

But - I found a translation service that I could trust

Winged Dragon Chinese
Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace

Imagine how envious your friends will be when they see these fabulous flying silver dragon pendant round your neck.

If you want to see other English to Chinese symbol disasters, then check out Names in Chinese symbols.

Fore warned is fore armed! There are some very malicious people out there that really have tattooed these things on innocent people.

Take your time. There really is no rush. Get a good translation and give to the tattooist. Then you are protected against a tattoo from hell disaster.