Tattoo help - update with pic pg2

[iradney]

So this June is coming to the 10 year anniversary of my oldest sister passing away.
As my other 2 tattoos are already Kanji, I would like to continue that tradition.

It's gonna be a small tattoo as I want it on either my wrist or my inner upper arm. I was thinking of the Kanji for either "elder sister" or "loved sister" with little angel wings flanking her initials.

So what I'm asking from you guys (especially those that are fluent in Katakana or Hiragana script) for the correct interpretation of Loved or Elder Sister. This tattoo is too important for me to walk around with "Pork Sausage" on my wrist, KWIM?

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Thank you for being genre savvy Irads!

also, I cannot help.

[MaggieTheCat]

Just so you realize that Kanji, Katakana, and Hiragana are all different? Katakana are symbols that are used to "spell" foreign words. Hiragana are symbols used to "spell" Japanese words. And Kanji are symbols that represent whole words or ideas. There are only 46 symbols each in Katakana and Hiragana, but there are thousands of Kanji symbols (roughly 50,000.) Since you said you wanted the tattoo in Kanji, I was just curious why you're looking for someone who knows Katakana and Hiragana...

My husband minored in Japanese in college. He says the Hiragana for "Older Sister" is あね (spelled "ane" in English, pronounced "on-ney"), the Kanji is 姉. You could also use お姉さん which means "oneesan." If you were talking about your sister to someone else, you would just use "ane." If you were addressing your sister directly, you would use "oneesan" which is more formal (showing respect for someone who is older than you.)

[iradney]

Thanks MaggieCat
I wasn't really sure about the differences, but I wasn't sure which would look better, if you know what I mean. I think I'll select the Hiragana, as that would fit in with the "flow" of the angel wings (does that make sense?) Please tell your hubby thanks very much. Once I've gotten it, I'll attach pics. I'm hopefully getting done on the 28th of June, which will be exactly 10 years to the day that she passed, so it will really have a lot of meaning.

Thanks again guys!

[MaggieTheCat]

You're welcome! I'm sure whether you use the Hiragana or Kanji it will look nice. I'm excited to see the pics once it's done. I can probably get my husband to find an actual image of the symbols if you'd like, so it's a little bigger and more detailed.

[iradney]

Naw, it's fine - i copied and pasted from what you gave me, put it in word and just increased the size and bolded it - works fine, and there's no changes to the lettering

There will only be pics on the 28th of June as that's when I'm getting it done But seriously, thanks so much - and give your hubby a squish from me, k?

[teh_blumchenkinder]

don't leave it pixillated! Find calligraphy of it.... or hmm...

[AdminAssistant]

A friend of mine is a Japanese cultural historian and has nearly 10 years experience with the language. (She also teaches Japanese and does calligraphy.) She's super busy, but I can see if she'll draw a larger version of it and take a picture.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

A friend of mine is a Japanese cultural historian and has nearly 10 years experience with the language. (She also teaches Japanese and does calligraphy.) She's super busy, but I can see if she'll draw a larger version of it and take a picture.

ooooh. Fancy. That's awesome.

[iradney]

awwww you guys!!!

[AdminAssistant]

My friend sent me this link: http://calligraphernao.files.wordpre...der-sister.jpg

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Hey! That's ink! That's really cool, she found it! (is that her blog? I like the calligraphy on it... *pages thru more*) Say thanks to your friend for us, AdminAssistant-- she's a really nifty one. :3

[AdminAssistant]

No, that's not her blog, at least...not as far as I know! But she knew what to look for. I just couldn't ask her to drag out the fancy paper, ink, and brush, not during finals week.

[iradney]

So I'm getting the tat today - 2.5 hours from now! Will post pics once done. THanks for all your help guys. *HUGS*

[iradney]

Ok, here it is! 40 minutes it took, and it didn't hurt as much as I thought it might.