Thinking about a new tattoo? A Chinese tattoo quote might be just the kind of meaningful and timeless design you’re looking for.
As someone who proudly wears one myself and has studied Mandarin for several years, I’m drawn to the elegance and depth behind the characters.
Here’s a curated list of powerful phrases—complete with pinyin and English meanings—that speak to life, love, strength, growth, and more.
Find the one that resonates with you.
What to find out in this post
Inspiring Chinese Tattoo Quotes Ideas
Let’s start with some meaningful and creative Chinese quotes, sayings, and tattoo ideas—each one carefully chosen for its depth, beauty, and personal resonance.
活在当下
– huó zài dāng xià
- “Live the moment.”
天道酬勤
– tiān dào chóu qín
- “Heaven rewards diligence.”
海阔天空
– Hǎikuòtiānkōng
- “The sky is the limit.”
不经一事，不长一智
– Bù jīng yī shì, bù zhǎng yī zhì
- “Without experiencing setbacks, you cannot gain knowledge.”
逆风飞翔
– nì fēng fēi xiáng
- “Fly against the wind.”
机不可失，时不再来
– Jī bùkě shī, shí búzài lái
- “Don’t miss opportunities: time doesn’t come around again/ ‘Now or never’
万事开头难
– Wànshì kāitóu nán
- “Everything starts difficult.”
死而无憾
– Sǐ ér wú hàn
- “Die without regrets.”
- Note: My good friend Zihan pointed out to me that Chinese people probably wouldn’t want a tattoo with the word “die” on their body.
命由己造
– mìng yóu jǐ zào
- “Destiny is created by oneself.”
失败是成功之母
– Shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ
- “Failure is the mother of success.”
百折不挠
– Bǎizhébùnáo
- “Indomitable”
仁者无敌
– Rénzhě wúdí
- “Kindness conquers all.” (The benevolent have no enemies.)
破茧成蝶
– pò jiǎn chéng dié
- “Break the cocoon and become a butterfly.”
Inspiring Quotes in Chinese: Tattoo Ideas
Many quotes from Chinese philosophers, poets, and classic texts have been passed down for centuries. Their lasting wisdom still resonates today, offering motivation, perspective, and powerful inspiration for a tattoo with meaning.
生如夏花
– shēng rú xià huā – Rabindranath Tagore
- “Live like summer flowers.”
无规矩不成方圆
– Wú guīju bù chéng fāngyuán – Menicus
- “Without standards, no boundaries are set.”
良药苦口
– Liángyào kǔ kǒu – Xunzi
- “Good medicine tastes bitter.” (Meaning: negative criticism is hard to swallow.)
有志者事竟成
– Yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng – Liu Zongyuan
- “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
转败为胜
– Zhuǎn bài wéi shèng
- “Turning defeat into victory”
一步一个脚印
– Yībù yīgè jiǎoyìn
- “One step – One footprint” (Meaning: Every step leaves a mark).
否极泰来
– Pǐjítàilái
- “Great things come after the worst.”
种瓜得瓜, 种豆得豆
– Zhòngguā dé guā, zhòngdòu dé dòu
- “You reap what you sow.” (Literally: ‘sow melons reap melons; sow beans reap beans’)
勇者无畏
– Yǒngzhě wúwèi
- “Courage knows no fear.”
不忘初心，方得始终
– Bù wàng chūxīn, fāng dé shǐzhōng
- “Don’t forget your original intention, and you will succeed.”
机不可失 时不再来
– Jī bùkě shī shí bù zàilái
- “Don’t let the opportunity slip.”
Chinese Tattoo Quotes about Love
Chinese is often admired for its poetic beauty, and love has long been a central theme in its literature and philosophy. Ancient poets and thinkers expressed deep, timeless reflections on love. Here are some of the most beautiful ones.
一见钟情
– Yījiànzhōngqíng
- “love at first sight”
海誓山盟
– Hǎishìshānméng
- “A love as eternal as the seas and mountains”. (“Vows of Love”)
一日三秋
– Yī rì sānqiū
- “A day makes three autumns” (Meaning: to express how much a person misses their loved one: “Without you, a day feels like three autumns“)
执子之手，与子偕老
– Zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xiélǎo
- “Hold your hand and grow old with you”
心有灵犀一点通
– xīn yǒu líng xī yī diǎn tōng
- “Our hearts are connected as if by a magical thread.”
生死与共
– Shēngsǐyǔgòng
- “Together through life and death”
有缘千里来相会
– Yǒuyuán qiānlǐ lái xiāng huì
- “Fate brings us together from far apart.”
爱情是彼此的信任和陪伴
– Àiqíng shì bǐcǐ de xìnrèn hé péibàn
- “Love is mutual trust and companionship.”
爱之切似海深
– Ài zhī qiè sì hǎi shēn
- “Love is as deep as the sea”
Chinese Tattoo Ideas about Family
Family has always held deep importance in Chinese culture. In the next section, you’ll find meaningful Chinese sayings about family, perfect for expressing and honoring that lifelong bond in a lasting way.
家和万事兴
– Jiā hé wànshì xīng
- “A harmonious family brings prosperity.”
家庭是大自然的杰作之一
– Jiātíng shì dà zìrán de jiézuò zhī yī
- “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
家，是心里永远的归宿
– jiā, shì xīn lǐ yǒng yuǎn de guī sù
- “Home is where the heart always belongs.”
金窝，银窝，不如自家的狗窝
– Jīnwō, yínwō, bùrú zìjiā de ɡǒuwō
- “Gold and silver nests cannot be as good as your family’s kennel.”
当麻烦来临，家人会给予你支持
– Dāng máfan láilín, jiārén huì jǐyǔ nǐ zhīchí
- “When trouble comes, your family will support you.”
一家人，心连心
– Yījiā rén, xīn lián xīn
- “One family, one heart.”
Short Chinese Characters Tattoo Ideas
Prefer something short and powerful? Here are some brief Chinese sayings that make perfect tattoo quotes—simple in form, rich in meaning.
爱
– ài – “love”
心
– xīn –”heart”
静
– jìng – “calm; tranquility”
力
– lì – “strength, power”
忍
– rěn – “endurance, patience”
希望
– xīwàng – “hope”
自由
– zìyóu – “freedom”
命运
– Mìngyùn – “fate, destiny”
美
– měi – “beautiful”
家
– jiā – “home, family”
亲人
– Qīnrén – “relatives, close bonds”
爱家
– ài jiā – “love for family”
光
– guāng – “light”
丰饶
– Fēngráo – “abundance”
平静
– Píngjìng – “peace”
花
– huā – “flower”
梦
– mèng – “dream”
喜悦
– Xǐyuè – “happiness”
海
– hǎi – “sea”
星
– xīng – “star”
荷
– hé – “lotus (flower)”
清白
– Qīngbái – “pure”
和谐
– héxié – “harmony”
勇
– yǒng – “courage”
信念
– Xìnniàn – “faith, trust”
