Famous People With Chinese Tattoos 🈸 10 Of The Best

Chinese Tattoos + Their Meanings ⭐️ Ultimate Celebrity Edition

Justin Bieber Chinese Tattoos
Justin Bieber Chinese Tattoo

Ever been walking home drunk at 2 in the morning and had that light bulb go off in your head thinking “I should get a tattoo”?

Yeah me neither but let’s say hypothetically you find yourself in this situation.

Well naturally, as you start flicking through the binder of tattoo ideas, you’re sure to come across some cool designs of Chinese tattoos.

You’ll have the classic Chinese dragon tattoo, the lotus tattoo, the Chinese symbol of love and maybe some other Chinese tattoo quotes.

Top Chinese Tattoos Tip: By this point, you’ve decided to get a Chinese tattoo. However, you’ve sobered up enough to start thinking you might want to be sure of any incorrect translations before you go ink to skin.

Well, fear not because your favourite celebs are here to lend a helping hand. We’ve put together a list of the top 10 celebrities ranked by social media following with Chinese tattoos and meaning.

Chinese Tattoos – Justin Bieber

Chinese Tattoos – Niki Minaj

Chinese Tattoos – Justin Timberlake

Chinese Tattoos – David Beckham

Chinese Tattoos – Britney Spears

Chinese Tattoos – Chris Evans

Chinese Tattoos – Angelina Jolie

Chinese Tattoos – Mike Tyson

Chinese Tattoos – Megan Fox

Chinese Tattoos – Julia Roberts

Live The Language · Tattoos In China

1. Justin Bieber Chinese Tattoo 曲 (qǔ) Music

162 M (Instagram)

Justin Bieber Chinese Tattoo
Justin Bieber Chinese Tattoo

It’s hard to beat Justin Bieber in this list we’ve put together.

DID YOU KNOW – He has a whopping 162 million followers on Instagram.

The Canadian pop star has 曲(qǔ) meaning music in traditional Chinese characters.

2. Nicki Minaj Chinese Tattoo 上帝与你常在 (Shàngdì yǔ nǐ cháng zài) – May God Always Be With You

129 M (Instagram)

Nicki Minaj Chinese Tattoo
Nicki Minaj Chinese Tattoo

Rapper Nicki Minaj has 上帝与你常在 (Shàngdì yǔ nǐ cháng zài) ‘may god always be with you’.

For a version that translates better, we recommend 上帝与你同在 (Shàngdì yǔ nǐ tóng zài) ‘God is with you’.

DID YOU KNOW – Nicki’s nickname with Chinese characters is 麻辣鸡 málàjī. This translates exactly to Spicy Chicken!

Really, it’s a thing in China!

Looking for tattoo inspiration? We’ve put together to the ultimate list of Chinese tattoo ideas.

3. Justin Timberlake Chinese Tattoo 曲 (qǔ) Music

60 M (Instagram)

Justin Timberlake Chinese Tattoo
Justin Timberlake Chinese Tattoo

Justin Timberlake and Bieber both have 曲(qǔ) meaning ‘music’ in traditional Chinese.

If you want ‘music’ tattooed in modern mandarin go with 音乐 (Yīnyuè).

TOP TIP – Looking for tattoos for men? This seems to be the one to go for (according to Bieber and JT anyway)!

4. David Beckham Chinese Tattoo 生死在命,富贵在天 (Shēngsǐ zài mìng), (Fùguì zài tiān) Death And Life Have Determined Appointments; Riches And Honours Depend Upon Heaven

65 M (Instagram)

David Beckham Chinese Tattoo
David Beckham Chinese Tattoo

Look no further than the man himself, football star and former Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy player David Beckham.

Beckham has in traditional Chinese characters 生死在命 (Shēngsǐ zài mìng) ‘life and death in destiny’ 富贵在天 (Fùguì zài tiān) ‘Rich in the sky’.

It’s actually a proverb, meaning…

‘Death and life have determined appointments; Riches and honours depend upon heaven’.

5. Britney Spears Chinese Tattoo 奇 (qí) Special/ Magic

27 M (Instagram)

Britney Spears Chinese Tattoo
Britney Spears Chinese Tattoo

TIP TIP – Looking for tattoos for women?

Singer Britney Spears has a cool Chinese tattoo of a flower and in it 奇 (qí) which as a stand-alone character has no meaning.

We think she might have been going for 特别 (Tèbié) ‘special’ or 魔法 (Mófǎ) ‘magic’.

6. Chris Evans Chinese Tattoo 氏 (shì) – Husbands Family Name

14 M (Twitter)

Chris Evans Chinese Tattoo
Chris Evans Chinese Tattoo

Captain America, I mean Chris Evans had what he believed to be ‘family’ tattooed on his right bicep.

Unfortunately, 氏 (shì) is the character used after a husband’s family name to address a married woman.

TOP TIP – If you want ‘family’ in the correct Chinese characters go with 家庭 (Jiātíng).

7. Angelina Jolie Chinese Tattoo 死 (sǐ) ‘Death’

1.3 M (Instagram)

Angelina Jolie Chinese Tattoo
Angelina Jolie Chinese Tattoo

Tomb Raider and actress Angelina Jolie has a bit of a dark Chinese character 死 (sǐ) meaning ‘death’.

You read that right! Death!

She also rocks the Chinese dragon tattoo on her left arm.

DID YOU KNOW – The number 4 in Chinese is unlucky because the pinyin for the number 4 is the same as death in Chinese.

So avoid getting the number 4 tattooed in Chinese!

8. Mike Tyson Chinese Tattoo – Chairman Mao’s Portrait And Name

14.5 M (Instagram)

Mike Tyson Chinese Tattoo
Mike Tyson Chinese Tattoo

Any Mao fans out there?

Take a page out of Mike Tyson’s playbook.

Mike Tyson is obviously a big fan of Chairman Mao and decided to ink his portrait and name on his right arm.

Apparently, Mike is a collector of Mao’s writings.

In 2006 he visited the remains of Mao Zedong to pay his respects. He told Beijing news:

“I felt really insignificant next to the remains of Chairman Mao” – Mike Tyson

9. Megan Fox Chinese Tattoo 力 (lì) Force

10 M (Instagram)

Megan Fox Chinese Tattoos
Megan Fox Chinese Tattoo

Transformers star Megan Fox inked herself with 力 (Lì) which means force in traditional Chinese.

This symbol is derived from ancient Chinese.

The left section symbolises a farmer while the right section is his hoe.

As farmers from that time would typically strike the ground with force to help cultivate their crops.

Can you see the farmer and his hoe in the symbol? 力

Another suggestion using modern Chinese characters could be 给力 (ɡěi lì) ‘awesome’.

10. Julia Roberts Chinese Tattoo 为 (wéi) – Stand For

9M (Instagram)

Julia Roberts Chinese Tattoo
Julia Roberts Chinese Tattoo

American actress and producer Julia Roberts made famous for her role in Pretty Woman, has 为 (wéi) ‘stand for’ inked on her back.

Julia was once married to Kiefer Sutherland the star of the hit drama series 24.

Both got Chinese tattoos together. Kiefer has the same symbol 力 (Lì) as Megan Fox.

Perhaps Julia threw him out after she found out he had matching tattoos with Megan?

CHECK OUT – These celebrities and their tattoos on our Instagram page.

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Chinese Tattoo Ideas

We’ve all heard the story.

Guy showing off his tattoo saying this is a ‘love in Chinese tattoo’ only to have a Chinese person tell them it actually means fried rice.

Just ask Chris Evans (above), I’m sure he would have a word of caution on getting the correct Chinese tattoo translation.

Let’s make sure you’re getting the correct charachters with this list of Chinese tattoo ideas.

Chinese Back Tattoos

  • Love in Chinese tattoo
  • Peace in Chinese tattoo

Love in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 爱
Traditional Chinese – 愛

Pinyin: ài

Peace in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 和平
Traditional Chinese – 和平

Pinyin: hé píng

Chinese Arm Tattoos

  • Happiness in Chinese tattoo
  • Life in Chinese tattoo

Happiness in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 幸福
Traditional Chinese – 幸福

Pinyin: xìng fú

Life in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 生活
Traditional Chinese – 生活

Pinyin: shēng huó

Chinese Neck Tattoos

  • Loyalty in Chinese tattoo
  • Family in Chinese tattoo

Loyalty in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 忠诚
Traditional Chinese – 忠誠

Pinyin: zhōng chéng

Family in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 家庭
Traditional Chinese – 家庭

Pinyin: jiā tíng

Chinese Wrist Tattoos

  • joy in Chinese tattoo
  • Wisdom in Chinese tattoo

Joy in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 喜悦
Traditional Chinese – 喜悅

Pinyin: xǐ yuè

Wisdom in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 智慧
Traditional Chinese – 智慧

Pinyin: zhì huì

Chinese Leg Tattoos

  • Courage in Chinese tattoo
  • Friendship in Chinese tattoo

Courage in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 勇气
Traditional Chinese – 勇氣

Pinyin: yǒng qì

Friendship in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 友谊
Traditional Chinese – 友誼

Pinyin: yǒu yì

Chinese Rib Tattoos

  • Fate in Chinese tattoo
  • Faith in Chinese tattoo

Fate in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 命运
Traditional Chinese – 命運

Pinyin: mìng yùn

Faith in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 信仰
Traditional Chinese – 信仰

Pinyin: xìn yǎng

Chinese Ankle Tattoos

  • Hope in Chinese tattoo
  • Patience in Chinese tattoo

Hope in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 希望
Traditional Chinese – 希望

Pinyin: xī wàng

Patience in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 耐心
Traditional Chinese – 耐心

Pinyin: nài xīn

Chinese Shoulder Tattoos

  • Strength in Chinese tattoo
  • Beauty in Chinese tattoo

Strength in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 力量
Traditional Chinese – 力量

Pinyin: quán lì

Beauty in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 美
Traditional Chinese – 美

Pinyin: měi

Chinese Chest Tattoo

  • Grace in Chinese tattoo
  • Beautiful in Chinese tattoo

Grace in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 优雅
Traditional Chinese – 優雅

Pinyin: yōu yǎ

Beautiful in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 美的
Traditional Chinese – 美的

Pinyin: měi lì

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Chinese Foot Tattoos

  • Brother in Chinese tattoo
  • Mom in Chinese tattoo
  • Sister in Chinese tattoo
  • Dad in Chinese tattoo

Brother in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 哥哥
Traditional Chinese – 哥哥

Pinyin: gē ge

Mom in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 妈妈
Traditional Chinese – 媽媽

Pinyin: mā mā

Sister in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 妹妹
Traditional Chinese – 妹妹

Pinyin: mèi mèi

Dad in Chinese tattoo

Simplified Chinese – 爸爸
Traditional Chinese – 爸爸

Pinyin: bà ba

Chinese Tattoos – FAQ’s

What does a Chinese Dragon Tattoo mean?

The dragon in Chinese mythology is the fifth of the 12 Chinese zodiacs.

Dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and East Asian culture at large.

The dragon is a symbol of power, strength luck.

How do you say Tattoo in Chinese?

Tattoo in Chinese is pronounced “wén shēn” the Chinese characters are 纹身

What does David Beckham’s Chinese Tattoo mean?

Football star David Beckham has in traditional Chinese characters 生死在命 (Shēngsǐ zài mìng) ‘life and death in destiny’ 富贵在天 (Fùguì zài tiān) ‘Rich in the sky’.

The best English translation is Death and life have determined appointments; Riches and honours depend upon heaven

What does Nicki Minaj’s Chinese Tattoo mean?

Rapper Nicki Minaj has 上帝与你常在 (Shàngdì yǔ nǐ cháng zài) ‘may god always be with you’.

Do Chinese people get English Tattoos?

Short answer YES.

Chinese people are fascinated with western culture.

In recent years there has been a surge in tattoo parlours opening in China and reportedly English tattoos are very common with Chinese people.

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  1. My mate got one drunk, apparently means fish 😂

    1. Max Hobbs
      Reply

      If it looks like this >>> 鱼 then your friend did indeed get FISH tattooed on him!