Chinese people generally have mixed views on tattoos.
Some see tattoos as a form of art and self-expression, while others view them as taboo or taboo-adjacent due to their long-standing association with criminals and gang members.
Tattooing is not illegal in China, but it is not widely accepted, and regulations vary from province to province.
How Come So Many Bad English Tattoos Are Made？
Many bad English tattoos in China are due to a lack of understanding of English grammar, spelling and pronunciation.
Many Chinese people choose English phrases for tattoos as a way of displaying their knowledge of the language, or to make a fashion statement without proper guidance.
However, these tattoos can be easily misinterpreted or simply wrong.
These bad English tattoos I gathered will certainly give you a laugh!
Want to read something funnier than bad tattoos? I wrote an article about fake brands made in China. (Here is the link)
Misspelling：
We all like “It’s my life”. I get it. But last time I checked this song is from “Bon Jovi”.
I can tell you why a lady puts scorpion on her back because we have a saying in Chinese called “蛇蝎美人“ meaning a beautiful and dangerous lady.
I can not tell you why letter “m” is in the end.
No Pain No gain is the most famous quote among Chinese pupils as they use it a lot when they write an English essay at school.
A major fail spelling as in the photo is the first time to see in my teaching career.
I disagree. My mum is never my angle but she is an angel SOMETIMES.
Are you J-E-A-L-O-U-S? Nope!!!
Wrong Grammar:
Never give up!
Life is what you make of it!
Just bad:
The whole point of getting a tattoo is to be remembered forever.
Putting “irreversible” is so pointless…Sign…
You are my weakness and my what???
May 007 be with me!
The tattoo on the right picture, if you do not tell me, I believe it is drawn by a ball pen.
Final Words:
Getting a nice English tattoo in China can be tricky.
But there are ways:
- The best way to get a good tattoo is to find a reputable tattoo artist who has experience doing English tattoos.
- Ask for recommendations from friends, or contact local tattoo shops to see who they recommend.
- You should also make sure the artist has good hygiene practices and sterilizes their equipment.
- Lastly, you should discuss your design ideas with the artist before getting the tattoo.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes they do and it’s getting popular for them to get an English one.
Yes, foreigners can have tattoos in China. Tattoos are frowned upon outside large urban centers, but in the cities, tattoos have become more acceptable.
Tattoos are acceptable in big cities. But in small cities, tattoos are associated with organized crime. Parents do not want their children to have them.
I can explain the “Scorpion” one. It’s about the star sign Scorpio: that’s what the funny “m” sign is too, the symbol for Scorpio. It’s not about a femme fatale as you suggested.