Start with meaning
Compare expressions and usage notes.
MEANING BEFORE INK
A Chinese tattoo.
Exactly what
you mean.
Some words stay with you. Make sure the ones on your skin tell the right story.
ONE CHARACTER. A WORLD OF MEANING.
本
心
本心
lì / strengthTHE ART OF EXPRESSION
Thoughtful meanings. Expressive lettering.Explore the art ↓
01 / FIND YOUR HAND
One meaning. Many expressions.
From quiet precision to a freer brush.
Find a style that feels like you.
01
Brush
Ma Shan Zheng
↗02Flowing
Zhi Mang Xing
↗03Freehand
Liu Jian Mao Cao
↗04Wild cursive
Long Cang
↗05Carved
ZCOOL XiaoWei
↗Samples drawn from our licensed typefaces. Refine your final stencil with your tattoo artist.
02 / A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Good ink starts
with understanding.
A beautiful character is only half the story.
Find your hand
Preview real calligraphy fonts.
Check before ink
Confirm meaning and your stencil with a fluent speaker and your artist.
Popular reviewed words
Human-reviewed meanings and usage notes. Check your final lettering and stencil with your artist.
03 / BEFORE THE INK
A few
good questions.
Is this machine translation?+
No. We look up a small curated list. Review status is shown with each entry.
Do I need a subscription?+
No. The HD calligraphy pack is $7.99 per word; a human review request is $9.99. Payments are simulated in this local MVP.
Is my design ready to tattoo?+
No. Confirm meaning with a fluent speaker and have your tattoo artist adapt stroke weight, size and placement.
Can I create a Chinese name?+
Name creation is coming soon. Learn more ↗
Read the Chinese tattoo guides ↗
心