In old China only criminals, prostitutes, and other denizens of the underworld would have tattoos. But, if you’re going to get a tattoo, you probably don’t care what others think about you anyway. Many of the following phrases would be considered shocking or, at least, extremely inauspicious by the Chinese. You have been warned!
Chinese Phrases for Tattoo
- 百尺竿頭 băi chĭ gān tóu – always strive to do better
- 白虎星 bái hŭ xīng – a jinx (said of a woman)
- 白馬王子 bái mă wáng zi – a knight in shining armor
- 半截劍 bàn jié jiàn – short but smart person [literally: half-length sword]
- 本覺 bĕn jué – inner awakening (Buddhist)
- 別煩我 bié fán wŏ – don’t bother me!
- 別過獎 bié guò jiăng – don’t overdo the praise
- 般若 bō rĕ – wisdom; prajna (Buddhist)
- 不成人 bù chéng rén – a person of loose morals
- 不怕熳就怕站 bù pà màn jiù pà zhàn – don’t be afraid of slowness, just be afraid of standing still
- 不為瓦全 bù wéi wă quán – better to die in glory than live in dishonor
- 不要管我 bù yào guán wŏ – leave me alone!
- 廁所在哪兒 cè suŏ zài nă ér – where’s the toilet?
- 暢心 chàng xīn – careless, free from inhibitions
- 超脫 chāo tuō – stand aloof, be detached, transcend worldliness, untrammeled, unconventional
- 超逸 chāo yì – free and natural, above worldly desires, detached from worldly affairs
- 超智 chāo zhì – exceptionally intelligent
- 臭吃臭喝 chòu chī chòu hē – drink like a fish and eat like a pig
- 床公床婆 chuáng gōng chuáng pó – god and goddess of the bed
- 雌老虎 cí lăo hŭ – a ferocious woman
- 從吾所好 cóng wú suŏ hăo – doing whatever I please
- 大安 dà ān – great peace
- 大鼻子 dà bí zi – high-bridged nose, big nose, (slang) caucasian, foreigner [literally: big nose]
- 大道 dà dào – wide road, the way of virtue and justice, the great Dao, the Great Way
- 大羅卜 dà luó bo – a big turnip, a simple-minded person
- 大夢初醒 dà mèng chū xĭng – as if waking from a dream
- 大幸 dà xìng – great good fortune
- 大丈夫 dà zhàng fu – a real man; a man of fortitude and courage
- 呆若木雞 dài ruò mù jī – dumb as a wooden chicken
- 到處為家 dào chù wéi jiā – everywhere can be my home
- 德色 dé sè – satisfaction derived from doing good
- 得一 dé yī – grasping oneness
- 雕鶚 diāo è – vulture and hawk; person of extraordinary strength and talent
- 懂個屁 dŏng ge pì – not know a damn thing
- 斗南一人 dŏu nán yī rén – one who knows no equal under the sun
- 獨步 dú bù – be unique, unrivaled, peerless
- 獨步古今 dú bù gŭ jīn – have no equal in both ancient and modern times
- 獨步天下 dú bù tiān xià – be unparalleled in the world
- 法水 fă shuĭ – the truth that washes away filth and illusion (Buddhist)
- 番鬼 fān guĭ – foreign devil
- 番子 fān zi – barbarian; foreigner
- 放狗屁 fàng gŏu pì – dog’s fart
- 飛蛇 fēi shé – flying dragon
- 風檐寸晷 fēng yán cùn guĭ – value every minute
- 褔 fú – good fortune
- 富甲天下 fù jiă tiān xià – the richest person in the world
- 附近有廁所嗎 fù jìn yŏu cè suŏ ma – is there a toilet nearby?
- 拂慮 fú lù – drive away cares and worries; be carefree
- 褔氣 fú qi – happy lot; good fortune
- 浮生若夢 fú shēng ruò mèng – our fleeting life is like an empty dream
- 俯仰自得 fŭ yăng zì dé – be contented wherever I may be
- 付之一笑 fù zhī yī xiào – smile and forget it; laugh it off; brush aside with a smile
- 褔自天中 fú zì tiān zhōng – happiness comes from heaven
- 蓋代英雄 gài dài yīng xióng – greatest hero of the generation
- 根性 gēn xìng – true nature (Buddhist)
- 苟存 gŏu cún – drift through life
- 狗屁 gŏu pì – dog’s fart, horseshit, nonsense
- 苟且偷安 gŏu qiĕ tōu ān – live in a fool’s paradise
- 管他呢 guăn tā ne – who cares!
- 鬼子 guĭ zi – foreign devil
- 海底橯月 hăi dĭ lāo yuè – strive for the impossible
- 還在 hái zài – still here; still (doing something)
- 好起 hăo qĭ – become better; be improving
- 好人難當 hăo rén nán dāng – It’s hard to please everyone
- 好人難做 hăo rén nán zuò – It’s hard to please everyone
- 何不 [or] 曷不 hé bù – why not?
- 何愁 hé chóu – why worry about it?
- 合當如此 hé dáng rú cĭ – this is how it should be
- 何妨 hé fáng – why not; might as well
- 何要浮名 hé yào fú míng – what good is renown?
- 很守規矩 hén shŏu guī jù – obeys the rules well (said of ugly women)
- 壺範 hú fàn – paragon of feminine virtue
- 滑天下之大稽 huá tiān xià zhī dà jī – be the object of universal ridicule
- 慧日 huì rì – the wisdom of Buddha
- 蕙心 huì xīn – pure heart of a woman
- 慧眼獨具 huì yăn dú jù – can see what others cannot
- 禍福共之 huò fú gòng zhī – be independent of good or evil fortune
- 活該如此 huó gāi rú cĭ – it serves you right
- 雞毛飛上天 jī máo fēi shàng tiān – do something never done before
- 擊壤 jī răng – live in peace and comfort
- 吉人天相 jí rén tiān xiàng – Heaven helps a good person
- 吉人自有天相 jí rén zì yŏu tiān xiàng – God helps/protects the good
- 急什麼 jí shén me – what’s the hurry; no need to hurry
- 己所不欲 勿施于人 jĭ sŭo bù yù, wù shī yú rén – that which you don’t desire, don’t do to others
- 吉星高照 jí xīng gāo zhào – be blessed by a lucky star
- 甲天下 jiă tiān xià – number one in the world; the finest under heaven
- 見怪不怪 jiàn guài bù guài – face something fearful without fear
- 矯若游龍 jiăo ruò yóu lóng – be as powerful as a dragon
- 驕子 jiāo zĭ – parent’s pride; favorite son; Heaven’s chosen one
- 解脫 jiĕ tuō – free/extricate oneself; (Buddhism) release from worldly cares
- 盡歡 jìn huān – enjoy myself to the full
- 勁力 jìn lì – strength, energy, martial power
- 盡興 jìn xìng – enjoying to the full
- 凈福 jìng fú – pure happiness (Buddhism)
- 居心何在 jū xīn hé zài – what are you (really) up to?
- 絕世之姿 jué shì zhī zī – a paragon of beauty
- 絕俗 jué sú – sever myself from worldly matters
- 俊拔 jùn bá – outstandingly talented
- 俊材 jùn cái – handsome and outstanding person
- 開開心 kāi kāi xīn – relax and enjoy myself
- 靠天 kào tiān – entrust my fate to heaven
- 可怖 kĕ bù – frighteningly ugly person
- 快活人 kuài huo rén – happy-go-lucky person
- 快適 kuài shì – happy and contented; pleased and satisfied
- 快心 kuài xīn – be pleased; feel happy
- 快意當前 kuài yì dāng qián – enjoy a moment of pleasure
- 老呆 lăo dāi – old fool
- 冷腸 lĕng cháng – uninterested in worldly affairs
- 力敵萬夫 lì dí wàn fū – matchlessly brave/powerful; too powerful to be defeated
- 力可拔山 lì kĕ bá shān – strong enough to lift a mountain
- 驪龍 lí lóng – black dragon
- 力求上進 lì qiú shàng jìn – trying to improve myself
- 利人利己 lì rén lì jĭ – benefit others as well as myself
- 潦而不倒 liáo ér bù dăo – down but not out
- 臨淵羨魚 lín yuān xiàn yú – better practical steps than wishful thinking
- 靈山 líng shān – (Buddhist/Daoist) immortal’s abode
- 龍馬 lóng mă – old but strong; aged but vigorous [literally: dragon horse]
- 龍友 lóng yŏu – literally: dragon friend
- 媽的 mā de – Fuck!; Shit!; Damn!
- 慢點 màn diăn – slow down
- 滿高興 măn gāo xìng – thoroughly happy
- 滿目春風 măn miàn chūn fēng – radiant with happiness
- 滿面紅光 măn miàn hóng guāng – glowing with health
- 美不勝收 mĕi bù shèng shōu – too much beauty to absorb; more beauty than one can absorb
- 沒有頭腦 méi yŏu tóu năo – dead above the ears
- 美製 mĕi zhì – U.S.-made; made in U.S.
- 悶不住 mèn bu zhù – can’t stand boredom
- 免開尊口 miăn kāi zūn kŏu – no comments, please; please keep your mouth shut
- 名韁利鎖 míng jiāng lì suŏ – the fetters of fame and wealth; a slave to fame and wealth
- 明月前身 míng yuè qián shēn – reincarnation of the moon; the moon is my former self
- 內聽 nèi tīng – listening within
- 內省不疚 nèi xĭng bù jiù – find no fault in examining my heart
- 內在美 nèi zài mĕi – inner beauty; beauty of spirit
- 能忍則安 néng rĕn zé ān – he who can endure is at ease
- 泥船渡河 ní chuán dù hé – life is filled with dangerous temptations (Buddhist)
- 你很性感 ní hĕn xìng găn – you’re so sexy!
- 年老心少 nián lăo xīn shào – an old person with a young heart
- 苶屁 nié pì – noiseless fart
- 女俠 nŭ xiá – female wandering knight
- 否极泰來 pĭ jí tài lái – from extreme misery comes good fortune
- 顰笑不苟 pín xiaò bù gŏu – don’t frown or smile to order; be natural
- 平安度日 píng ān dù rì – lead a life of peace
- 平安雙褔 píng ān shuāng fú – double happiness and peace
- 平安有褔 píng ān yŏu fú – happiness and peace
- 豈不尔思 qĭ bù ĕr sī – how can I not think about you?
- 其奈我何 qí nài wŏ hé – what can they do to me?
- 慼謝歡招 qī xiè huān zhāo – refuse grief, welcome joy; decline grief with thanks, and call in joy
- 奇中之奇 qí zhōng zhī qí – the strangest of the strange
- 千古卓絕 qiān gŭ zhuó jué – unmatched past or present
- 乾坤到處是吾家 qián kūn dào chù shì wú jiā – anywhere in the universe can be my home
- 千里之行始於足下 qiān lĭ zhī xíng shĭ yú zú xià – a journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step; great success is an accumulation of smaller successes
- 強中之強 qiáng zhōng zhī qiáng – the strongest of the strong
- 瞧你的 qiáo nĭ de – let’s see what you can do
- 巧妻常伴拙夫眠 qiăo qī cháng bàn zhuō fū mián – smart girls usually have dumb husbands
- 瞧我的 qiáo wŏ de – watch how I do it
- 衾影無慚 qīn yĭng wú cán – doing nothing I would be ashamed of even if there’s no one watching
- 情痴 qíng chī – love maniac
- 輕舉輕放 qīng ju qīng fang – handle gently
- 輕利重義 qīng lì zhòng yì – think little of material gain but attach great importance to righteousness
- 請勿動手 qĭng wù dòng shŏu – Don’t touch! Hands off!
- 請閑自在 qīng xián zì zài – free and easy
- 清心 qīng xīn – empty the mind of worries; have peace of mind; purify the heart; have a pure heart
- 求知 qiú zhī – seek knowledge
- 去你的 qù nĭ de – Get lost!; Nonsense!; Shut your big mouth!
- 去做吧 qù zuò ba – go for it!
- 饒了我 ráo le wŏ – stop bothering me!
- 人地不宜 rén dì bù yí – wrong man in the wrong place
- 人間春色 rén jiān chūn sè – the fairest in the human world
- 人見人愛 rén jiàn rén aì – be everybody’s darling
- 人間喜劇 rén jiān xĭ jù – the comedy of life
- 人盡其力 rén jìng qí lì – everyone does their best
- 人敬人高 rén jìng rén gāo – show respect for him, and he will respect himself
- 人老心不老 rén lăo xīn bù lăo – though old, still young in heart
- 人生如寄 rén shēng rú jì – life is like a passing traveler; life is short
- 人生如夢 rén shēng rú mèng – life is but a dream
- 人生如朝露 rén shēng rú zhāo lù – life is as fleeting as the morning dew
- 人生朝露 rén shēng zhāo lù – life is ephemeral
- 人算不如天算 rén suàn bù rú tiān suàn – God’s way is higher than man’s
- 人無完人 rén wú wán rén – no one is perfect
- 人心莫測 rén xīn mò cè – the human heart is a mystery
- 人心叵測 rén xīn pŏ cè – man’s heart is incomprehensible
- 日幸 rì xìng – daily luck/ good fortune
- 日行一善 rì xíng yī shàn – do one good deed a day
- 如願 rú yuàn – as one wishes
- 弱智 ruò zhì – IQ of zero
- 散慮逍遙 săn lù xiāo yáo – scatter anxiety, roam leisurely; dismiss worry and roam about at leisure
- 色即是空 sè jí shì kōng – everything visible is empty (Buddhism)
- 森羅萬象 sēn luó wàn xiàng – embrace all the things of the world
- 傻瓜 shá guā – stupid-looking person [literally: muddle-headed melon]
- 上游無止境 shàng yóu wú zhĭ jìng – one can always aim higher
- 上愚 shàng yú – the most stupid
- 神愛世人 shén ài shì rén – God loves people
- 神馳左右 shén chí zuŏ yòu – my spirit is always with you
- 神明共鑒 shén míng gòng jiàn – let God examine our hearts!
- 神仙中人 shén xiān zhōng rén – the happiest mortal alive
- 盛名難副 shèng míng nán fù – it’s hard to live up to a great reputation
- 盛名之累 shèng míng zhī lèi – the nuisance of being a famous personality
- 生趣 shēng qù – joy of life
- 聖人也有三分錯 shèng rén yĕ yŏu sān fēn cuò – even a wise man makes some mistakes
- 十磨九難出好人 shí mó jiŭ nàn chū hăo rén – hardships produce outstanding people
- 世上無雙 shì shàng wú shuāng – having no equal on earth
- 壽 shòu – longevity
- 守靜 shŏu jìng – maintain tranquility
- 舒暢 shū chàng – happy; worry-free
- 恕己恕人 shù jĭ shù rén – forgive others as you do yourself
- 束矢難折 shù shĭ nán zhé – in union there’s strength
- 疏水簞飄 shū shuĭ dān piáo – be content with a simple life
- 孰謂 shú wèi – who says?
- 淑心 shū xīn – pure heart
- 孰知 shú zhī – who knows?
- 雙手萬能 shuāng shŏu wàn néng – with two hands one can work miracles
- 誰放屁了 shuí fàng pì le – anybody fart?
- 誰敢 shuí găn – Who dares?
- 水清無魚 shuĭ qīng wú yú – don’t ask for perfection
- 誰是誰非 shuí shì shuí fēi – Who’s right and who’s wrong?
- 四大皆空 sì dà jiē kōng – everything is emptiness; (Buddhist) the sensuous world is illusory
- 四海為家 sì hăi wéi jiā – make my home wherever I am; lead a wandering life
- 四海一家 sì hăi yī jiā – all people belong to one family
- 四海之內皆兄弟 sì hăi zhī neì jiē xiōng dì – all men are brothers (within the four seas)
- 思惹情牽 sī rĕ qíng qiān – a prisoner of love
- 似水流年 sì shuĭ liú nián – time passes swiftly like flowing water
- 似水年華 sì shuĭ nián huá – time passes swiftly like flowing water
- 松小子 sōng xiăo zĭ – good-for-nothing rascal
- 松心 sōng xīn – relax; be carefree; have ease of mind [literally: pine heart]
- 算了吧 suàn le ba – forget it!
- 隨心所欲 suí xīn suŏ yù – follow what the heart desires; to do as I please
- 所見即所得 suŏ jiàn jí suŏ dé – what you see is what you get
- 他媽的 tā mā de – Damn it!; Fuck!; Shit!
- 太不自量 tài bù zì liàng – greatly over-rate myself
- 太和 tài hé – grand harmony between yin and yang
- 太極 tài jí – the Supreme Ultimate (in Chinese cosmology)
- 太乙 tài yĭ – primordial unity of yin and yang
- 探幽 tàn yōu – seek the mysterious
- 桃花薄命 táo huā bó mìng – unlucky is the life of a beautiful woman
- 陶然 táo rán – happy and carefree
- 淘沙揀金 táo shā jiăn jīn – search for the very best
- 天半人半 tiān bàn rén bàn – half heaven and half human
- 天庇神佑 tiān bì shén yòu – blessed by heaven and god
- 天人 tiān rén – heaven and man; a man of great talent or a woman of matchless beauty; celestial being; extraordinary beauty
- 天生纔子 tiān shēng cái zĭ – born a genius
- 天生國色 tiān shēng guó sè – endowed with dazzling beauty
- 天生麗質 tiān shēng lì zhì – a born beauty
- 天生有福 tiān shēng yŏu fú – born under a lucky star
- 天生尤物 tiān shēng yóu wù – born siren, sex kitten, etc.
- 天下爲公 tiān xià wéi gōng – the world belongs to everyone
- 天下一家 tiān xià yī jiā – all under heaven are one family
- 天仙化人 tiān xiān huà rén – stunning beauty
- 天仙下凡 tiān xiān xià fán – a goddess descended to the world
- 天香國色 tiān xiāng guó sè – woman of stunning beauty
- 天涯若比鄰 tiān yá ruò bĭ lín – be with each other though far apart
- 天資穎慧 tiān zī yĭng huì – be by nature endowed with remarkable talents
- 同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kŭ – together in sweetness, together in bitterness; share joy and sorrow
- 痛快利索 tòng kuai lì suo – joyful, carefree
- 童心 tóng xīn – childish heart; innocence
- 土霸王 tŭ bà wáng – cock of the dunghill
- 土老 tŭ lăo – clodhopper; rustic old man; damned fool
- 推念 tuī niàn – think of or miss somebody distant/past
- 蛙面 wā miàn – frog face
- 外愚內智 wài yú nèi zhì – foolish in appearance but wise inside
- 萬寶全書 wàn băo quán shū – master of everything; universal genius
- 宛若天仙 wăn ruò tiān xiān – divinely beautiful
- 萬事開頭難 wàn shì kāi tóu nán – the first step is always difficult
- 萬事莫求全 wàn shì mò qiú quán – don’t ask for perfection
- 萬事起頭難 wàn shì qĭ tóu nán – the first step is always difficult
- 忘機 wàng jī – carefree; at peace with the world
- 往里傻 不往外傻 wăng lĭ shă, bù wăng wài shă – not as muddleheaded as I appear
- 威震八方 wēi zhèn bā fāng – awe the world
- 威震四方 wēi zhèn sì fāng – awe the world
- 威震四海 wēi zhèn sì hăi – inspire awe throughout the country/world
- 威震天下 wēi zhèn tiān xià – inspire awe throughout the country/world
- 刎頸交 wĕn jĭng jiāo – friendship until death
- 我不是故意的 wŏ bù shì gù yì de – I didn’t do it on purpose
- 我很丑可是我很溫柔 wŏ hén chŏu kĕ shì wŏ hén wēn róu – I’m ugly, but I’m tender
- 我盡我力 wŏ jìn wŏ lì – I do the very best I can
- 我是你的 wŏ shì nĭ de – I’m yours!
- 我有我法 wŏ yŏu wŏ fă – I follow my own rules
- 臥雲 wò yún – sleeping on the clouds; life of a hermit [literally: lie down among the clouds]
- 我醉了 wŏ zuì le – I’m drunk
- 悟道 wù dào – grasp the truth; understand the principles of Buddhism
- 五道何之 wú dào hé zhī – whither goes my path?
- 無悔 wú huĭ – no regrets
- 無可不可 wú kĕ bù kĕ – do as I please
- 無兩 wú liăng – unparalleled; unrivalled; matchless
- 勿念 wù niàn – don’t worry
- 無牽無挂 wú qiān wú guà – have no cares
- 無雙國士 wú shuāng guó shì – man of superior talent/ability
- 無私無慮 wú sī wú lù – free from care; happy-go-lucky
- 無所反顧 wú suŏ făn gù – never look back
- 勿謂言之不預 wù wèi yán zhī bù yù – don’t say you weren’t warned!
- 物物相聯繫 wù wù xiāng lián xì – everything is connected to everything else
- 無一不精 wú yī bù jīng – be an expert in everything
- 無憂無慮 wú yōu wú lù – totally without worries
- 烏有先生 wū yŏu xiān sheng – Mr. Nobody
- 稀世之才 xī shì zhī cái – supramundane power of intellect
- 洗心 xĭ xīn – purify the heart
- 閑瘋了 xián fēng le – bored stiff
- 閑話少說 xián huà shăo shuō – cut the cackle
- 仙女 xiān nŭ – female celestial; immortal maiden; a beauty
- 想邪的 xiăng xié de – think weird thoughts
- 翛 xiāo – free and unrestrained
- 笑傲 xiào ào – enjoy a carefree life with contempt for conventions
- 笑比合口 xiào bĭ hé kŏu – keep on laughing
- 蕭散 xiāo sàn – uninhibited and carefree
- 笑什麼 xiào shén me – what are you laughing at?
- 小心輕放 xiăo xīn qīng fàng – handle with care!
- 逍遙 xiāo yáo – free and unfettered
- 逍遙一生 xiāo yáo yī shēng – free and unfettered all one’s life
- 心安 xīn ān – have peace of mind; carefree
- 心安神閑 xīn ān shén xián – my heart is at rest and my spirit at ease
- 心澄神凈 xīn chéng shén jìng – have a pure spirit/heart
- 心廣體胖 xīn guăng tĭ pàng – carefree and contented
- 心凈 xīn jìng – my mind is pure; cleared of worries; at ease
- 心曠體胖 xīn kuàn tĭ pàng – carefree and contented
- 心曠神怡 xīn kuàng shén yí – carefree and happy
- 心寬體胖 xīn kuāng tĭ páng – carefree and contented
- 心裡托低 xīn li tuō dī – relaxed; free from anxiety; at ease
- 心如止水 xīn rú zhĭ shuĭ – a heart without worries/cares; my mind is as settled as still water
- 心秀 xīn xiù – be intelligent without looking so
- 心眼太好 xīn yăn tài hăo – too considerate for my own good
- 欣奏累遣 xīn zòu lĕi qiăn – advance joy, banish care; promote joy, but banish care and trouble
- 省察 xĭng chá – watch over myself and examine my words, thoughts, and behavior
- 形醜心善 xíng chŏu xīn shàn – have a rough appearance but a good heart
- 行的春風有夏雨 xíng de chūn fēng yŏu xià yŭ – do unto others as you would have them do unto you
- 行樂須及時 xíng lè xú jíshí – enjoy life before it’s too late!
- 幸勿見外 xìng wù jiàn wài – don’t treat me as a stranger, please.
- 羞花閉月 xiū huā bì yuè – so beautiful as to cause the flowers to blush and the moon to hide (of women); an incomparable beauty
- 修己 xiū jĭ – self-cultivation
- 休己 xiū jĭ – cultivate myself
- 褏然舉首 xiù rán jŭ shŏu – tower above the rest in intellect
- 修身 xiū shēn – cultivate my moral character
- 修真養靜 xiū zhēn yăng jìng – achieve true peace of mind
- 修真養性 xiū zhēn yăng xìng – engage in self-cultivation
- 學不完 xué bù wán – have an endless amount to learn
- 尋夢 xún mèng – seeking dreams; follow a dream
- 啞屁 yă pì – soundless fart
- 艷皮不裹媸骨 yàn pí bù guŏ chī gŭ – beauty without and intellect within
- 仰不愧天 yăng bù kuì tiān – have nothing to feel ashamed of before God
- 洋鬼子 yáng guĭ zi – foreign devil [literally: western devil]
- 洋毛子 yáng máo zi – foreign devil
- 養生 yăng shēng – keep in good health; nourish my vital principle
- 養神 yăng shén – refresh my spirits; (Daoist) foster my spiritual essence
- 養身 yăng shēn – take care of my health, nourish my personal vital principle
- 養心 yăng xīn – cultivate mental calm; mental cultivation
- 樣子貨 yàng zi huò – something better looking than useful
- 言語道斷 yán yŭ dào duàn – highest principle/essence which cannot be explained in words (Buddhist)
- 咬我 yáo wŏ – bite me!
- 也不照照鏡子 yĕ bú zhào zhào jìng zi – you should look in the mirror
- 野鶴閑雲 yĕ hè xián yún – free and unrestrained
- 遺臭萬年 yí chòu wàn nián – leave a name that will stink to eternity; be cursed by posterity
- 一刻千金 yī kè qiān jīn – every moment is precious
- 軼倫 yì lún – tower above my contemporaries
- 以勤補拙 yĭ qín bŭ zhuō – make up for lack of ability by hard work
- 一人難稱百人意 yī rén nán chèn băi rén yì – you can’t please everyone
- 一人難如千人意 yī rén nán rú qiān rén yì – you can’t please everyone
- 英雄難過美人關 yīng xióng nán guò mĕi rén guān – even heroes fall for beauties
- 永褔 yŏng fú – eternal happiness
- 有道 yŏu dào – possessing the way; learned and virtuous; have attained the way; adhere to principles of truth and right
- 有何不可 yŏu hé bu kĕ – why not this way?
- 玉心 yù xīn – a heart as pure as jade [literally: jade heart]
- 与造物游 yu zào wù yóu – live freely with the supreme creator
- 雲心 yún xīn – a mind free of worldly worries; as free as the clouds [literally: cloud heart]
- 止觀 zhĭ guān – mindfulness; keep mental calm while observing the universe [literally: stop and watch]
- 住口 zhù kŏu – shut up!
- 姿容絕代 zī róng jué dài – incomparable for beauty, even among the celebrities of old
- 自勝者強 zì shèng zhĕ qiáng – he who overcomes himself is strong
- 自在 zì zài – free from hindrance/delusion; independent (Buddhist)
- 自在 zì zai – free, unrestrained, comfortable, at ease