# What if I wanted a ridiculous tattoo in another language? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250 "2022-11-02T21:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/21 "2022-11-04T01:18:02Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > The last time I was in Japan (admittedly, a good number of years ago) it was common to see young people wearing T-shirts with English text. Perhaps 20% more or less made sense, e.g. “NY Yankees”. Many were gibberish, e.g. “Basket model wash” / “Now fly time calibration”. More than a few were obscene. [https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1awtfk/so\_this\_weather\_girl\_was\_on\_tv\_somewhere\_in\_china/](https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1awtfk/so_this_weather_girl_was_on_tv_somewhere_in_china/) > **[Chinese weather woman in "Fucking" T-shirt](https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=93489)** ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/22 "2022-11-04T01:34:19Z")
Makes me wonder how many young women have “Public Toilet” tattooed in Chinese above their butt cracks. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/23 "2022-11-04T01:57:00Z")
As long as it doesn’t say “No passing zone” in Chinese. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/24 "2022-11-04T04:27:42Z")
A guy I went to school with joined the navy and got a rooster in a noose tattooed on his calf. So he could brag that he had a cock that hung below his knees. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/25 "2022-11-04T22:22:19Z")
I read the question about why one would get his own name tattooed. I suppose it might make sense for somebody who is starting to get Alzheimer’s Disease. If the patient wandered off, he’d have a built-in ID tag. Otherwise, I can’t think of a reason. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/26 "2022-11-04T22:45:58Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > I suppose it might make sense for somebody who is starting to get Alzheimer’s Disease. I am I, Don Quixote! ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/27 "2022-11-05T00:45:50Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > The last time I was in Japan (admittedly, a good number of years ago) it was common to see young people wearing T-shirts with English text. Perhaps 20% more or less made sense, e.g. “NY Yankees”. Many were gibberish, e.g. “Basket model wash” / “Now fly time calibration”. More than a few were obscene. When I was a kid, I received shorts from step family in Hong Kong. I’ll never forget the words written on them: > [@](#): > > 7 Up > American Sports Drink > And Don’t You Forgot [sic] It I wish I still had those. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/28 "2022-11-05T04:24:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t understand why somebody would get their own name tattooed on themselves. Am I missing the point? Well, you couldn’t get it tattooed on someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/29 "2022-11-05T04:58:51Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Well, you couldn’t get it tattooed on someone else. [Speak](https://live.staticflickr.com/7453/10662000216_ab5158da0c_z.jpg) [for](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo_gih-jYiQ/UH2kgKKCZHI/AAAAAAAABKI/FlWpGpS55r4/s1600/IMG_8277.JPG) [yourself.](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/cc/ac/ebccacf3d746079de9c297b06a7111f1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/30 "2022-11-05T15:05:50Z")
In theory, getting medical information on a forearm would be handy. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/31 "2022-11-06T18:18:06Z")
I have long thought that if I get HIV (or a similar blood born disease) that I would get a tattoo on my right arm, just near where they generally stick the needle as a public service to the people who - at the point they read it - are probably trying to save my life. I know needle-stick injuries caused one of my teacher’s husbands to die really early on in the AIDS pandemic, before much was known about it. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/32 "2022-11-06T20:11:55Z")
This guy who speaks speaks in several Chinese dialects did it with Kung Pao Chicken [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPXT43Rekaw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPXT43Rekaw) I find some of his and others videos funny, but overall I think they’re condescending and disrespectful, even if most of the people seem to enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/33 "2022-11-08T16:47:47Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > …disrespectful, even if most of the people seem to enjoy it. Doesn’t that kind of sum up this whole message board? So I’ll try your link; bet I like it. ETA: I didn’t like the “fisheye lens” technique, but loved that he’d walk around a Chinatown market with a huge tattoo that translates as “Kung Pao Chicken”. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/34 "2022-11-08T16:57:39Z")
Actual T-shirt of a Japanese wrestling tag-team in the mid-90s: [![](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.91918553.1046/ssrco,classic_tee,womens,101010:01c5ca27c6,front_alt,square_product,600x600.jpg) ](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.91918553.1046/ssrco,classic_tee,womens,101010:01c5ca27c6,front_alt,square_product,600x600.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/35 "2022-11-08T17:21:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > don’t understand why somebody would get their own name tattooed on themselves. Am I missing the point? A friend of mine has her name on her shoulder to help identify the remains. (Her explanation) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/36 "2022-11-09T10:22:11Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > In theory, getting medical information on a forearm would be handy. the SS agrees with you … > **[SS blood group tattoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_blood_group_tattoo)** > > SS blood group tattoos (German: Blutgruppentätowierung) were worn by members of the Waffen-SS in Nazi Germany during World War II to identify the individual's blood type. After the war, the tattoo was taken to be prima facie evidence of being part of the Waffen-SS, leading to potential arrest and prosecution. > The SS blood group tattoo was applied, in theory, to all Waffen-SS members, except members of the British Free Corps. It was a small black ink tattoo located on the underside of the left ... ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/37 "2022-11-09T11:10:13Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > In theory, getting medical information on a forearm would be handy. An elderly friend of mine has done that. Tattoos are exceedingly common in Hawai’i so no one finds it at all strange. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/38 "2022-11-11T02:12:18Z")
Until you find your (tattooed) diagnosis of lupus was mistaken. After all, “It’s never lupus.” ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/39 "2022-11-11T02:30:08Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > One of my favorite gifts from a friend was something she found in Japan. It’s a reusable bag loaded with those nonsense phrases and cats. Phrases include “Miso Pretty” “Fresh from the Factory” “Darling No 1” “Bag Luck”. One of my prized possessions is a set of pink plastic chopsticks my Aunt brought me back from Japan. They say MADONNA: FEEL THE GOOD FEELING. I’m a Madonna fan and can pretty much guarantee that song is not in her repertoire. But I have to give them credit for capturing the gist of her music. Cracks me up. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250/40 "2022-11-11T22:12:41Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’m a Madonna fan and can pretty much guarantee that song is not in her repertoire. But I have to give them credit for capturing the gist of her music. It was probably deliberate, given some of the other slogans I’ve seen like this. The Japanese are clever with these jokes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-i-wanted-a-ridiculous-tattoo-in-another-language/974250.md?page=3)