
Thinking of getting “love and hate” inked in Chinese symbols but feeling a bit confused about it?
No worries, I’ve got your back!
In this article, I’ll help you figure out the correct Chinese characters for “love and hate.” Plus, I’ve come up with some awesome tattoo designs for them.
Let’s get started!
Let’s start by discussing the Chinese characters that individually represent “love” and “hate” individually.
In Chinese, the character for “love” is “爱” (Ài).
If you’ve been following my articles, you might remember a simple rule I often mention.
For example, in this article, I explained that “honesty” in Chinese is “诚实” (Chéngshí), which is made up of two characters. Shortening it to “诚” (Chéng) or “实” (Shí) would be incorrect.
But, here’s the thing – this isn’t a strict rule all the time.
The character we’re discussing now, “爱” (Ài), is a bit special.
Most of the time, it’s used just like “love.”
Check out these examples:
So, to sum it up, you can think of “爱” as having the same meaning as “love.”
In Chinese, the character for “hate” is “恨” (Hèn).
When used as a verb, “恨” is pretty much like “hate.”
For example:
But when used as a noun, we often say “仇恨” (Chóuhèn) for “hate.”
For instance:
If this is not what you expected, no need to worry.
Read on for more explanation.
Now, let’s talk about the best way to express “love and hate” — 爱与恨 (Ài yǔ hèn).
Yeah, you caught it. Here, we didn’t use “仇恨” (Chóuhèn) for “hate.”
Quick tip:
As “恨” (Hèn) already conveys the meaning of hate and “爱” (Ài) is a single character, for symmetry, we go with “爱与恨” (Ài yǔ hèn).
In Chinese, chasing that visual harmony might sacrifice a bit of precision, but it won’t mess up the overall meaning.
If the details feel overwhelming, just remember one thing. The most fitting translation for “love and hate” is “爱与恨” (Ài yǔ hèn). Done and dusted!
In this part, I’ll be sharing some tattoo designs for “love,” “hate,” and the blend of “love and hate.”
But first, let’s take a moment to grasp the unique stylistic features of various script types.
Running Script: If you’re into a free-flowing vibe, this script is a great pick. The strokes connect smoothly, giving off a relaxed charm.
Cursive Script: Cursive Script is passionate like ink gracefully dancing on paper. Ideal for expressing a carefree spirit.
Slender Gold Style: This style with delicate lines adds a touch of elegance. Perfect for those who prefer simplicity with style.
Seal Script: If you are drawn to a sense of ancient history, Seal Script is an intriguing choice. Each stroke carries a mysterious vibe, like an old legend. This script is not simplified or traditional Chinese characters.
Modern Artistic Fonts: For those craving uniqueness, modern artistic fonts inject creativity and trendy elements into your tattoo.
Confused about getting “love and hate” inked in Chinese? Fear not!
Discover the correct characters for “love” and “hate” – 爱 and 恨. Stick to “爱与恨” for precision.
Don’t miss out on unique tattoo styles like Running Script or Modern Artistic Fonts. Get inspired and ink your story today!