Chinese tattoo

Stories in ink: what a Chinese tattoo can say

There’s a quiet power to a Chinese tattoo: a brushstroke of heritage, a whisper of myth, a note of courage worn on skin. This collection blends timeless symbolism with a modern eye for detail, so you can slip meaning into your everyday look without the commitment of permanent ink. Think of it as jewellery made of language and legend — ready when you are, gone when you want.

Chinese motifs have always carried layers: elegance, resilience, balance. Our designs are crisp and considered, from minimal scripts to richly detailed emblems. Some feel intimate, almost secret; others ask to be seen. Choose the one that tells your story and let it settle naturally into your style.

• Hanzi characters: single words with weight — hope, strength, serenity — rendered like calligraphy you can wear. For more lettering-led pieces, explore our writing tattoos.
• Dragon: guardian of luck and vitality, full of movement and coil. See bold, flowing options in our dragon tattoos 🐉.
• Koi fish: perseverance against the current, a glimmer of hard-won success. Find graceful swimmers in our koi tattoos.
• Lotus: purity rising from the murky water — a quiet kind of radiance.
• Phoenix: renewal after the ashes, all flame-tip feathers and lift.
• Yin yang: night and day in easy balance — discover meditative forms in our yin yang tattoos.

Skin-first quality, made for real life

These pieces are created for comfort and clarity. The finish sits silky against your skin with clean edges and true, inky depth. Our vegan, skin-kind transfers are EU‑certified and waterproof, so they last through showers, gym sessions and late nights — typically up to two weeks with a little care. Application is simple: a minute with water, no faff, no smudging. And when you’re ready for a change, removal is just as easy.

Because they’re temporary, you can trial placements, test scales, even curate a rotating gallery of motifs. Mix a delicate character with a lotus bloom; layer a slim line koi beside a cuff of bracelets. It’s fashion, but with feeling.

Motifs that hold meaning

Chinese symbolism travels beautifully across styles. Dragons curve with motion, ideal for a forearm or along the shoulder blade. A single character can sit like a secret on the inner wrist, or anchor a necklace stack at the collarbone. Lotus petals soften the ribcage; a koi follows the line of the calf like a stream. The language of balance, fortune and wisdom runs through them all — a small reminder who you are, or who you’re becoming.

Placement ideas to match your mood

• Wrist or ankle: a petite hanzi or yin yang for a subtle, everyday cue.
• Collarbone: a slender script that catches the light, elegant with open necklines.
• Shoulder and upper arm: phoenix or lotus for a soft yet striking silhouette.
• Back or thigh: room for intricate dragons or a flowing koi for full visual drama.

And if you love curating themes, pair your piece with kindred styles: minimal scripts, spiritual iconography, or even Japanese folklore for a cross-cultural moment.

Curate your set

Build a story across your skin with considered companions. Start with a character that feels like a mantra, then add movement with a koi, or contrast with calm symmetry. If you’re drawn to symbols beyond this collection, wander through our symbol tattoos for clean, meaningful shapes, or browse artful linework in Japanese tattoos for a different brush of tradition 🌸.

Whether you’re dressing for a festival, a date night, or simply to lift an ordinary Tuesday, these designs bring a quiet centre to your look. Waterproof, vegan, EU‑certified and made to feel good on skin — all the practical boxes ticked, without losing the poetry.

Ready to find the one that speaks? Explore the collection, try a placement, live with it for a while. And when the mood shifts, choose another. Your story isn’t fixed — and neither is your Chinese tattoo 🐟.