Is this correct?

[DAMB]

Hello everyone,

When I got this tattoo several years ago the guy told me it was Japanese for ... well, if it is Japanese, you should be able to tell me what it means.
But now he's saying that, if he did it, it HAS to be Chinese.

So I did some research and I DO think it is Japanese, but I'm not sure if it is 100% correct (the picture is not HD, but you should see enough details to judge). For example, shouldn't the "upper bar" on the left be attached, and perpendicular to the others?

I'd really need some help with other words too... Am I a pain already?

[DAMB]

I could try to get a better picture...

Anyway, I think it says 勝. So another question is: shouldn't it be 勝つ, or can you leave the last part out without really changing the meaning? (Yeah, I don't know anything... That I know.)

If this is the case, can you use 踊, instead of 踊る, for "to dance"?
And 演じ, or maybe even 演, instead of 演じる, for "to perform"?

And while I'm at it... is there a female version for:

歌手 - singer
俳優 - actor
作家 - writer
画家 - painter
?

(Feel free to correct me, or give precisions .)

Thanx for any help ou can give me.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by DAMB

I could try to get a better picture...

Anyway, I think it says 勝. So another question is: shouldn't it be 勝つ, or can you leave the last part out without really changing the meaning? (Yeah, I don't know anything... That I know.)

If this is the case, can you use 踊, instead of 踊る, for "to dance"?
And 演じ, or maybe even 演, instead of 演じる, for "to perform"?

And while I'm at it... is there a female version for:

歌手 - singer
俳優 - actor
作家 - writer
画家 - painter
?

(Feel free to correct me, or give precisions .)

Thanx for any help ou can give me.

勝

I guess it's too late for the "Don't get weird kanji tattoos" speech.

It means "win, victory" but isn't actually a word all by itself. You could add つ to make 勝つ, but then you have the verb meaning "to win". Again, pretty meaningless without any context.

Just out of curiosity, what idea are you trying to convey?

勝ち気 is a winning, or unyeilding spirit/attitude. That's a little more meaningful.

勝者 is a winner.

勝ち栗 is a dried chestnut.

[Nattybumppo]

Originally Posted by DAMB

And while I'm at it... is there a female version for:

歌手 - singer
俳優 - actor
作家 - writer
画家 - painter
?

These nouns are gender-neutral in Japanese, as with most nouns. They work for males and females alike.

[Powermad147]

Originally Posted by MMM

勝ち栗 is a dried chestnut.

MMM...That would be the BEST TATTOO EVER =O

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Powermad147

MMM...That would be the BEST TATTOO EVER =O

I think so too.

[DAMB]

Originally Posted by MMM

勝

I guess it's too late for the "Don't get weird kanji tattoos" speech.

Yeah... it kinda is... But I am grateful for the fact that you would have given me the speech, had it not been.

Originally Posted by MMM

Just out of curiosity, what idea are you trying to convey?

The tattoo is actually only for me, it is the (winning) location that gives it its meaning, but I'd like to have something more coherent (I have another kanji tattoo). And since my knowledge of the Japanese language is (as good as) non-existent, I was planning on marrying the two by using other simple words... Yeah... I know... speech?
Well that, and I don't have a lot of space/skin to express everything I want to.

Originally Posted by MMM

勝ち気 is a winning, or unyeilding spirit/attitude. That's a little more meaningful.

If I choose this, I'll have to change the whole general idea... which isn't bad perse...

Originally Posted by MMM

勝者 is a winner.

An easier option.

Originally Posted by MMM

勝ち栗 is a dried chestnut.

If it wasn't permanent!

I might try to find something slightly less... simple(?) than my original plan.
Hope you will be here to correct me, if necessary.

Thank you.

[DAMB]

Originally Posted by Nattybumppo

These nouns are gender-neutral in Japanese, as with most nouns. They work for males and females alike.

Thanks for the info.
And these are "perfect" translations?
(The first translation I got for... actrice, or dancer... I don't remember, was actually another word for geisha. That's why I'm asking.)

[MMM]

Here's some ideas you can play with, if you like, off that kanji:

Find words - Denshi Jisho

“勝”の検索結果（2583 件）：英辞郎 on the Web：スペースアルク

And I appreciate you appreciating the speech without actually having heard it...It's quite refined, really.

[Powermad147]

Originally Posted by ITADAKIMASU

i see an oblong coke can with a smashed lizard to the side

Thank you for your observations xD I NEVER would have seen that