AboutTerry Thatcher Waltz Expertise I specialize in Chinese technical translation and conference interpretation, and terminology. I can answer questions about these topics, Chinese language pedagogy and learning issues, Chinese grammar for learners, and general issue related to Taiwan.
Experience Full-time translator and conference interpreter since 1987; long-time resident of Taiwan. Qualified State Dept. language contractor (interpreter and translator) with extensive government and private sector experience.
Organizations American Translators Association; The Translators' and Interpreters' Guild; ATA Interpreters' Division; ATA Chinese Division.
Publications AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) website
Question First of all, thank you very much for your kindness and patience.
I'm sorry to bother you so much about it, but this is very important for me. Is there a chance that this character is a chinese character, but only some people (for example native chinese people) can read it? Maby it is related to some other form of chinese language that only certain people know about?
Because I know that chinese is a very complicated language.
Can I be sure that the this "unknown" character is not a bad thing?
p.s.
This tattoo was taken straight out of an english - chinese dictionary.
Again,
Many many thanks!
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Followup To
Question -
Thanks for the very fast reply.
So as far as your concern, can I be quiet - that the tattoo says "mother"?
thanks.
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Followup To
Question -
thanks. I've set up an album at tripod.com. here is the direct link to the photo: http://snoop296.tripod.com/tattoo/
please tell me if it says "mother"
thanks!
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,
I have a tattoo that suppose to say "mother".
I want to be sure of that.
Is it possible that I will send you a photo of my tattoo by email so you can confirm this to me?
Thanks!
Answer -
Hi,
As you know, it's a problem to receive attachments these days...can you find a free hosting arrangement where you could upload the photo, and then post the link here? I'll be glad to have a look at it then.
Best regards
Terry
Answer -
Hi,
In the photo you posted, there are three characters. The "top" of the tattoo is the bottom of hte photo as it was posted, but it looks as though your hand is at the top of the photo so the tattoo runs down your arm as far as I can tell from the picture (which would be correct).
I cannot read the top character; the bottom two do say "mother" although it's not exactly sharp-looking Chinese calligraphy. Definitely legible however.
Regards
Terry
Answer -
Hi again,
I've asked a couple of other translators to look at the tattoo photo (good thing you posted it to the Net, it's very easy to ask for second opinions.) Everyone agrees that the last two characters are definitely "mother" (no question there) but no one can make out the first one.
I have no doubt that your tattoo artist was NOT Chinese.
At least the first character is not an obviously rude one (I mean, I could think of verbs put in front of "mother" that would be a bad thing to have tattooed on your arm). It's just that nobody can read it (and these are people who should be able to read it).
I'd ask your tattoo artist very carefully just what his qualifications to be tattooing Chinese on people are.
Answer I can assure you, first of all, that we translate Chinese for a living. The translators who have looked at it include both native Chinese speakers and native English speakers. WE CAN'T READ THE FIRST CHARACTER. Not to sound too harsh, but that's what happens when you try to copy something out of a dictionary in a script you don't know. It's obvious that a person who doesn't write Chinese did the work. Same thing happens with first-year Chinese students. They are copying the characters "right out of the book" but they don't look right.
Sorry but that's about all I can tell you about it based on the photograph and the information you've given. My guess is that the first character is not offensive (if it could be read, that is). I would imagine it might be an attempt at "wo3", meaning "my" -- that's my only guess. But it's really not legible.
