The Way Ariana Grande ‘Fixed’ Her Japanese BBQ Tattoo Fail Is Making All Japanese People Cringe
There is nothing pop stars love more than dabbling in cultural appropriation, but this week Ariana Grande found out that if you’re going to appropriate you should at least do it correctly. The singer posted a photo of a brand new Japanese tattoo in Japanese, inspired by her new hit “7 Rings,” – the only problem was instead of using all the symbols in the video she did some editing that gave the tattoo an entirely new meaning.
Ariana’s recent tattoo translation mishap has been the subject of endless jokes as well as cultural criticism
Image credits: arianagrande
The artist intended for the design to read “7 Rings” using Japanese Kanji symbols, which appear in the song’s music video
Image credits: arianagrande
In the music video’s title card, you see the symbols — “七つの指輪” – which translates to “7 Rings.” However, Grande cut out three of the characters, causing the phrase to change completely. The use of “seven” (七) and “ring” (輪) depicted together on her hand, instead translates to”shichirin” — a small charcoal grill or BBQ.
Although the mistranslation was bizarrely funny, many people voiced their frustrations with people getting tattoos in a language they don’t understand just to be ‘trendy’
Image credits: NAMGlRL
Image credits: orbithopes
Image credits: iIyrei
In an attempt to fix her mistake and Grande posted this conversation with her Japanese tutor
Image credits: arianagrande
But still failed…
Image credits: arianagrande
Instead of adding the (指) symbol (or finger) above the tattoo, as her tutor had suggested, she added it directly under the (七) character. Well following the rules of reading Japanese, her “BBQ Grill” correction turned into (七輪指♡) – “Japanese BBQ finger.”
As you can imagine people in the comments showed no mercy over her “correction”
Image credits: nctven
Image credits: konchugun
Image credits: eimiyamamitsu
Image credits: hellodear61898
Image credits: TfCrow61
Image credits: bang_done_
Image credits: earthlingrbr
Image credits: beIieveyogaIaxy
Image credits: Shifty_Alien
Image credits: deathfanacc
Image credits: h0a7n3n1
Image credits: broderick
Cultural Appropriation police again. Look at the earlier post of Chinese people wearing clothing bearing English wording which they don't understand but like the look of.. Are WE insulted ? No - just mildly amused. Why are people offended if someone has a foreign symbol tattoo - as long as it isnt intentionally disrespectful to that culture.
Yes that’s true. There are whole websites dedicated to the crazy (sometimes vulgar) English phrases you will see East Asian proudly wearing on t shirts.
Load More Replies...This is karma for that time she licked a donut in a shop with no intention to pay for it, got caught and threw a celebrity fit, and said "I hate America". The place that gave her the opportunity to be a celebrity in the first place. Proof you cannot buy class.
Not a fan of her music, but the fact she has a Japanese language tutor implies she actually cares and is trying to learn. She went for the tatoo a bit too soon, though. Should have waited to reach a more advanced level. But I do understand the eagerness. (Remembering the days I was beginner level in Korean)
The opposite of this also exists, it's non English speaking cultures (especially Asian languages with totally different characters) getting t-shirts and jumpers with English words, sayings or slightly miss spelled brand names printed on them... which is equally hilarious. Goes both ways!
I lol even more when you realize that in Japan, tatoos are taboo. Even if you have a really small one you will not be allowed into their onsens (hot baths).
There are tattoo-friendly onsen tho, and most are ok with small ones now. If you check out Simon and Martina on youtube they have a lot of tattoos and talk about visiting onsen in a couple of their vids.
Load More Replies...(I know I'm not supposed to give my opinion, but....) I am not a fan of Grande by any means, and I do think it's dumb to get a tattoo in a language you don't understand, but I have seen countless examples of people from all sorts of different cultural backgrounds who have worn clothing/gotten tattoos in a language they don't know, and had it come out horribly in mis-translations, East Asians included. I think if we are going to call out people for "cultural appropriation," then people from all cultures should be included who are appropriating.
wowwww that reminds me of this guy who got a chinese tattoo that said "i dont know what it means" in chinese
There's this site "Babo shirts" (translates as "stupid shirts", or "shirts of stupidity", "shirts for the stupid") that sell intentionally bizzare Korea related shirts aimed at internationals who are not really ignorant about Korean culture (I mean, you wouldn't find those funny otherwise). And long ago, one of the designs had a writing in Korean which translated as "Do you know what's written on your shirt?" It was cute.
Load More Replies...I think that comment about the order of reading is both right and wrong... You can write it top to bottom in Japanese (like in books, or comic bubbles, it's usually top to bottom), but when you do that it's also right to left... So taking it that way, what is actually seems to say is "Ring♥ Seven Fingers" (輪♡七指)
I'm really wondering how many people have a tatoo "Do not iron" or something similar in Chinese or Japanese characters.
Even if getting a tattoo in a language you don't know is a crime, the crime is its own punishment.
I call Shenanigans!! BUT what hack artist did she get to tattoo her PALM??? If she wanted it to last, YOU DON'T waste ink on your palm. The skin renews so frequently it will literally disappear! I know this from trusted experts!
Paula is wrong though, Japanese can indeed be read downwards, but then they read from right to left... so that would still be wrong and read: ring <3 seven fingers
I don't understand. Hmmm, A japanese person doesn't know english and spells something wrong !! * Dum dum * They are disrespecting the people who know english !! What A crappy logic ! And , People should check their eyes before commenting . Its 7 rings written on her arm but kind of upside down for japanese people. And I dont understand how Japanese bbq grill is so insulting for japanese people . Like , Dont they use bbq grills ?
I tattooed myself with "pig farts" cuz random English words are all the rage
I tattooed" pig farts" in English in my arm it's cool cuz random English words are cool
I read the last as "Japanese finger fart." I have a 9 year-old boy. We're all about farts right now. This mama rocks!
Many of these comments are about approval or disapproval of the tattoo. You're it the boss if anyone. You don't make the rules for anyone.
There is an article elsewhere on this site of clothing being worn by Asian people with slogans on them that make absolutely no sense or are so inappropriate for children to be wearing because of what is written on them. The confusion goes both ways.
Just write that bs on a post it and put it on your night shelf if you cant remember 2 words.And what's the obsession with languages where you dont understand s**t?I swear,95% of people with tattoos are just edgy people trying to be sooo different and unique.Be unique like everyone else :D
Cultural Appropriation police again. Look at the earlier post of Chinese people wearing clothing bearing English wording which they don't understand but like the look of.. Are WE insulted ? No - just mildly amused. Why are people offended if someone has a foreign symbol tattoo - as long as it isnt intentionally disrespectful to that culture.
Yes that’s true. There are whole websites dedicated to the crazy (sometimes vulgar) English phrases you will see East Asian proudly wearing on t shirts.
Load More Replies...This is karma for that time she licked a donut in a shop with no intention to pay for it, got caught and threw a celebrity fit, and said "I hate America". The place that gave her the opportunity to be a celebrity in the first place. Proof you cannot buy class.
Not a fan of her music, but the fact she has a Japanese language tutor implies she actually cares and is trying to learn. She went for the tatoo a bit too soon, though. Should have waited to reach a more advanced level. But I do understand the eagerness. (Remembering the days I was beginner level in Korean)
The opposite of this also exists, it's non English speaking cultures (especially Asian languages with totally different characters) getting t-shirts and jumpers with English words, sayings or slightly miss spelled brand names printed on them... which is equally hilarious. Goes both ways!
I lol even more when you realize that in Japan, tatoos are taboo. Even if you have a really small one you will not be allowed into their onsens (hot baths).
There are tattoo-friendly onsen tho, and most are ok with small ones now. If you check out Simon and Martina on youtube they have a lot of tattoos and talk about visiting onsen in a couple of their vids.
Load More Replies...(I know I'm not supposed to give my opinion, but....) I am not a fan of Grande by any means, and I do think it's dumb to get a tattoo in a language you don't understand, but I have seen countless examples of people from all sorts of different cultural backgrounds who have worn clothing/gotten tattoos in a language they don't know, and had it come out horribly in mis-translations, East Asians included. I think if we are going to call out people for "cultural appropriation," then people from all cultures should be included who are appropriating.
wowwww that reminds me of this guy who got a chinese tattoo that said "i dont know what it means" in chinese
There's this site "Babo shirts" (translates as "stupid shirts", or "shirts of stupidity", "shirts for the stupid") that sell intentionally bizzare Korea related shirts aimed at internationals who are not really ignorant about Korean culture (I mean, you wouldn't find those funny otherwise). And long ago, one of the designs had a writing in Korean which translated as "Do you know what's written on your shirt?" It was cute.
Load More Replies...I think that comment about the order of reading is both right and wrong... You can write it top to bottom in Japanese (like in books, or comic bubbles, it's usually top to bottom), but when you do that it's also right to left... So taking it that way, what is actually seems to say is "Ring♥ Seven Fingers" (輪♡七指)
I'm really wondering how many people have a tatoo "Do not iron" or something similar in Chinese or Japanese characters.
Even if getting a tattoo in a language you don't know is a crime, the crime is its own punishment.
I call Shenanigans!! BUT what hack artist did she get to tattoo her PALM??? If she wanted it to last, YOU DON'T waste ink on your palm. The skin renews so frequently it will literally disappear! I know this from trusted experts!
Paula is wrong though, Japanese can indeed be read downwards, but then they read from right to left... so that would still be wrong and read: ring <3 seven fingers
I don't understand. Hmmm, A japanese person doesn't know english and spells something wrong !! * Dum dum * They are disrespecting the people who know english !! What A crappy logic ! And , People should check their eyes before commenting . Its 7 rings written on her arm but kind of upside down for japanese people. And I dont understand how Japanese bbq grill is so insulting for japanese people . Like , Dont they use bbq grills ?
I tattooed myself with "pig farts" cuz random English words are all the rage
I tattooed" pig farts" in English in my arm it's cool cuz random English words are cool
I read the last as "Japanese finger fart." I have a 9 year-old boy. We're all about farts right now. This mama rocks!
Many of these comments are about approval or disapproval of the tattoo. You're it the boss if anyone. You don't make the rules for anyone.
There is an article elsewhere on this site of clothing being worn by Asian people with slogans on them that make absolutely no sense or are so inappropriate for children to be wearing because of what is written on them. The confusion goes both ways.
Just write that bs on a post it and put it on your night shelf if you cant remember 2 words.And what's the obsession with languages where you dont understand s**t?I swear,95% of people with tattoos are just edgy people trying to be sooo different and unique.Be unique like everyone else :D
75
42