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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My £100 tattoo is the wrong tattoo ...aibu to complain?

180 replies

Llisadfd · 17/02/2018 10:21

About 7 years ago I got a tattoo on my wrist of the Chinese symbol “mother”
My mum died when I was a teenager so I had this idea that it would be nice.
A few months ago I started a new job and made friends with a lady from China...she informed me my mum tattoo wasn’t the correct symbol for mum and in fact it didn’t mean anything.
I’m so upset,would you go back to the shop?

OP posts:
RadicalFern · 17/02/2018 10:22

Can you attach a photo of your tattoo? There is more than one character that can mean mother, so yours might not be incorrect...

Original poster
Llisadfd · 17/02/2018 10:24

I’ve tried to upload a pic but for some reason I can’t.
I’m using my phone and 2 circles one with a smiley face and the other with a I ..press both but no option for a pic.

OP posts:
selftitledalbum · 17/02/2018 10:25

Yabvu to get a symbol you couldn’t dechiper yourself anyway

RabbityMcRabbit · 17/02/2018 10:25

After 7 years? I don't think you can go back. It's up to the client to check spellings etc especially in a foreign language, sorry OP x

HeyRoly · 17/02/2018 10:26

Oh dear, I'm sorry. Unfortunately your story is quite common and it shows why it's a problem tattooing yourself in a language you don't know.

I'm not sure going back to the shop will help, because it's unlikely they could alter the tattoo without making a mess of it. You could have it partially lasered and then covered with something else?

falsepriest · 17/02/2018 10:26

It's still a symbol that means something to YOU though :)

Original poster
Llisadfd · 17/02/2018 10:27

It was total stupidity.
To get it on my wrist too as it’s affected me with jobs too.

OP posts:
Lovelylovelyladies · 17/02/2018 10:27

I thought everyone new that Chinese tattoo symbols never meant what they were supposed to? I mean only an idiot would get a tattoo on their body with no idea what it actually says.

Pengggwn · 17/02/2018 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuzzKillington · 17/02/2018 10:27

After 7 years? Er, no.

Lovelylovelyladies · 17/02/2018 10:27

P.s no you can't complain.

EdmundCleverClogs · 17/02/2018 10:28

With all due respect, why did you get a Chinese tattoo to represent your mother? Because unless she was Chinese and/or you had it done a by a reputable Chinese speaking tattooist, it’s little wonder that it’s not right. It was seven years ago, very much too late. Save up to get a cover tattoo of something that reminds you of your mum if you’re that unhappy with it.

RadicalFern · 17/02/2018 10:28

Do you not have a paperclip in a circle for attachments?

loobybear · 17/02/2018 10:28

i would just go somewhere else and get it covered up.

Fairylea · 17/02/2018 10:29

Could you get it covered up with something else? If you go and see a good tattooist in your area they’d be able to advise you.

PaperdollCartoon · 17/02/2018 10:29

Tattooists aren’t foreign language experts. It’s your responsibility to check the meaning of these things I’m afraid. There’s no point going back now, I doubt they’d remember you and you couldn’t prove they even did it.

Vitalogy · 17/02/2018 10:30

In hindsight it would have been best to do your own research at the time but of course that doesn't help the situation now. I agree with PP, it's a complicated language, so best to double check. Although I think it's a such a long time since it was done. Worth going back to the shop though, you never know.

BarbaraOcumbungles · 17/02/2018 10:31

Were people really still getting Chinese symbol tattoos is 2010? Well I never.

BarryTheKestrel · 17/02/2018 10:31

This happens quite frequently. But there are many different regional variations etc so your tattoo may still say mother, just not in standard dialect. Also Chinese, Japanese and other language characters are often lumped together meaning your tattoo may be in a language different to the one you believe it is.

waterlego6064 · 17/02/2018 10:32

Radical, a paperclip in a circle would be a really shit tattoo. Worse than the Chinese symbol.

blueskypink · 17/02/2018 10:33

Was your mother Chinese? Otherwise .... why? Confused

BuzzKillington · 17/02/2018 10:35

I did wonder if the OP's mother was chinese too.

Vitalogy · 17/02/2018 10:35

I mean only an idiot would get a tattoo on their body with no idea what it actually says. Feel better after that! Uncalled for.

mysteryfairy · 17/02/2018 10:35

My DH speaks/reads Mandarin and Cantonese. He's sees this a lot but he never tells anyone their tattoo is inaccurate. I think your colleague was mean to tell you.

Someone I know just had a wrist tattoo covered up which was for his ex wife. Yours is for your mum so I think you should look at it with fondness.

BettyBaggins · 17/02/2018 10:36

I think it is worth trying to post the pic later incase someone can give it more meaning. Then I think, if it means something other than mother you could email the tattoo parlour with the pic just to simply tell them they might want to replace their template if they havent. If they offer you a cover up, explore that, carefully huh!

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