The Tattoo meaning

[miamiaanna]

Hi guys,

I want to get a tattoo in Thai language.

I got the translation from one of my collegues but I am not sure is it correct.

Could you please check if the translation is right?

self-reliance, independence, freedom

ความเชื่อมั่นในตัวเองความเป็นอิสระอิสระ

Thank you in advance for your time.

Anna

[Seligne2]

Oops! I think it says, "do you want fries with that?"

[miamiaanna]

hahahaha <deleted>

could u help me then? please

[Mole]

I can recommend that you don't tattoo such thing on your body. In Thai culture, we don't usually tattoo phrases or words on our body like people do in The West. You'll look like those farangs with those stupid Chinese character tattoos.

If you want to get something genuinely Thai tattoo, get a so called "yantra tattoo". A tattoo master will recommend a suitable design which will be able to enhance your luck or personality in some ways.

If you really like those words that much, just tattoo them in English. Translated into Thai, those words won't have exactly the same meaning or impact. It'll just look goofy with those words tattoo on you.

In Thai language, one single word often can have a slightly different meaning depending on context, so by writing just single words like that it'll just look confusing.

For example "independence" and "freedom" involves with the Thai word อิสระ. But this depends on exactly what you mean with "independence" because if you mean like independent country, it can be เอกราช or อิสรภาพ. But if you mean more like personal independence, then it can be for example เป็นตัวของตัวเอง

"Self reliance" can also be translated to various words depending on exactly what you mean. Is it mentally self-reliance ไว้ใจตัวเอง, or physically like you're some kind of "MacGyver" พึ่งตัวเอง.

As for "freedom", it can be เสรี which may mean more like liberty and อิสระ means like independent.

If you get those words tattooed, a typical Thai would think you're some kind of freedom fighter political lunatic or something like that.

[Roel]

Great post Mole. Good example of how internet forums CAN be helpful and informative.

By the way I got one of these stupid Chinese character tattoos myself but in my defense they were extremely cool 40 years ago.

[Mole]

Hope you got Chinese characters with actual meaning and not something gibberish. If it's gibberish, then I can assure you, despite you may think so, they were never cool, not 40 years ago, or ever...

http://hanzismatter.blogspot.com/

[Roel]

Fortunately Chinese people can read it and it says what it is meant to say. Nice blog!