Tattoo Symbol?

[nerdwhacker99]

My friend is getting a tattoo and really wants the chinese symbol for 'Family'. The only problem is when looking around theres a million different variations and he has no idea which is right. I know there is a few variations because there is different languages and colloquialisms but id be greatful if someone with some knowledge could find a sybol for family that is 100% correct instead of just guessing, links would be helpful, thankyou :) andy

[craft1948]

I can't help you.............but I love my tattoo.

[tonyav]

were is it crafty ?.
If it's any help to you Cantonese is the most spoken version of Chinese.

[craft1948]

It's on my left arm/shoulder.............

[BlueToffee]

I thought it was Mandarin Tony

[tonyav]

Doh, I was hoping it was somewhere more exiting than that crafty.

[craft1948]

lol it's in the place which should go least wrinkly...........

[tonyav]

Good thinking crafty.

[AlwaysConfused]

careful what advice you take!

http://spluch.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/man-had-coca-cola-tattoo-without.html

I love my tattoos. I have designed most of mine and a couple of Mr AC's, but I wait a couple of years before taking the plunge! I have to say, I have never changed my mind!

[tonyav]

Yes thinking about it you are right Blue Toffee.

[boxtops]

I'd ask a Chinese person, nerdwhacker

[AlwaysConfused]

exiting!?!

[tonyav]

Well I know what I mean't.

[boxtops]

Can't stand tattoos, especially on women :-(

[Frank97]

家 seems to be suggested by a couple of sites I've just looked at
http://asianform.com/page.php?pid=80
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/family.htm
http://www.chinese-lessons.com/cantonese/vocabFamily.htm
but I'd follow boxtops' advice if it was me.

[Iluvspikey]

tonyav - where are you getting your (mis) information from? Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong .
The chinese character for family is made up of two radicals shi and mian. there are accents over letters I can't do with this keyboard. shi means pig mian means roof. the character as a whole is jia meaning family, house, home.

[tonyav]

I have said that Blue Toffee is right and Mandarin is the most widely spoken.

[Iluvspikey]

i did see that after I posted, I do apologise, I'd buy you a drink and a chinese if I could!!

[tonyav]

Beef Chow Mien sp please.

[lcg]

i have 13 tattos and love all of them....but my 4 chinese tattoos are my favourite. my advice would be to look at the different fonts of writing first and decide which one you like before having any done (as you may end up with some more). second, if you look on google images, you will soon get the idea of what the symbol for family is (i will try to look for you too in a minute). and lastly....always go armed with the design you want to the tattoo parlour and NEVER have one done on the spur of the moment, or you will regret it.