# Dopers who can write kanji? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 21, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100 "2002-07-21T15:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/1 "2002-07-21T15:52:03Z")
I’m thinking of getting a tattoo of the kanji representing a certain phrase. Problem is, I’m having trouble figuring out which ones I should be using to capture the spirit of what I’m trying to get across. This is sort of a personal thing, so I don’t really want to post the request here on the boards. So if any of you Dopers out there with the knowledge and ability to reproduce kanji would like to help me out, there’s a ten-spot in it for you. Just post here and I’ll email you what I’m looking for. I’d like it to be the calligraphic rendition of the phrase, or failing that, an image I can take to the tattoo artist that would allow him to reproduce it faithfully. ---
**Author:** ![xejkh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/22d042/32.png) [@xejkh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xejkh)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/2 "2002-07-21T16:00:08Z")
I can. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/3 "2002-07-21T16:46:13Z")
I can, too. I used to be a Japanese translator and have studied (and written) haiku. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/4 "2002-07-21T23:20:58Z")
Me too (but I guess I’ve been beaten to the punch!). ---
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/5 "2002-07-22T04:27:32Z")
Thanks for the responses, guys. xejkh, I got an error when I sent my request to you, so I must’ve entered the address wrong. cjhoworth, check your in box. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/6 "2002-07-22T04:34:27Z")
Hmm… Personally, I would say that if you don’t want to put the phrase up on a board where you’re anonymous, you might want to think very hard before you get a possibly questionable translation of it (not to question the ability of those that’ve volunteered, but abtract stuff is tough to translate) tattooed on yourself. ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/7 "2002-07-22T08:00:48Z")
“Eternal Love”?!?!?! No, that says “Cheap-assed bastard” you silly fool! ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/8 "2002-07-22T14:59:21Z")
Don’t forget some things in Japanese translate … oddly to put it mildly. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/9 "2002-07-22T15:09:43Z")
Don’t forget some things in Japanese translate … oddly to put it mildly. ---
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/10 "2002-07-22T22:30:12Z")
Fair enough. Perhaps a consensus is the best way to assure I get the correct intent across. The phrase I want is “something worth dying for”. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-who-can-write-kanji/120100/11 "2002-07-23T00:21:02Z")
Hm. I have a Kanji book. Would that help?