from: Amanda S.

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 

date: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 2:46 PM
subject: Fast and Foolish?

Hi Tian, 

My brother recently got a tattoo that he believe translates to "fast and furious." 

Is this the case at all?

Thank you!

Yes, it does say "fast" and "foolish".

from: Diego S.

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 

date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 7:37 PM 

subject: What does this mean?

Hi dude, I don't know how to post a new image in your blog, so I'm sending this e-mail, I hope you can help me with this. I really need to know what is the meaning of this tattoo.

Hope you can help me...

Whoever got this tattoo is an idiot, and this is why.

from: Brian T. 
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com" 
date: Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 2:27 PM 
subject: Trust in God Tattoo? 

My brother in law thinks this says "trust in God". Can you confirm this? 

Thanks

 
神 typically is used to describe deity, not necessarily the Judea-Christian sense of "God", which is 上帝.

信用 is not "trust", rather creditworthiness along the line of trying to get a loan from bank.

from: JK
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com"
date: Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 9:09 PM
subject: Tattoo meaning if any?

I got this tattoo 17 years ago in NYC. Tattoos were not totally legal in the city yet and I was underage. Internet was not in full swing either. The tattoos were supposed to have read, "Strength and Courage." I'm sure they don't. LoL! If you could tell me what the characters mean (if anything), I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

JKreasy



小畜 "little animal" and 大過 "big mistake".

from: Fabiano B.
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 
date: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 11:24 AM 
subject: Chinese tatoo?

Can you translate this tattoo, please. Thank you.

It is absolute meaningless gibberish based on this font!

Another gullible individual with "THEO" on his arm.  

from: Boris

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com

date: Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 12:37 PM

subject: Funny tatoo

Hi Tian!

Just saw this photo of an acquaintance -- http://instagram.com/p/N6rLwJGnEK/

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the "Way of the Firebird" tatoo spelled the wrong way round? Just wanted to let you know so you may have a new addition for your Hanzismatter Website.

Kind regards,

Boris

Although the image is reflection taken from a mirror, 火鳥道 is indeed in wrong vertical orientation.

from: Gabriel D. 

to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com" 

date: Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 8:12 AM 

subject: suspicious looking tattoo 

Hello, Tian. 

I've been reading your HanziSmatter blog for a while now and I've always found it equally amusing and educational. A little while back one of my friends has gotten his ankle tattooed as you can see in the attached image. 

He said it is something related to the concept of "family", but that the tattoo artist himself didn't really make it clear what it meant. 

Could you perhaps help? 

Best regards, 

Gabriel

  

Typical "family" is 家庭.