刺青

cìqīng
noun

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 tattoo
  2. 2 to tattoo

Examples

Tā shǒubì shàng yǒu yī ge cìqīng.
He has a tattoo on his arm.
Tā xiǎng qù cìqīng diàn cì yī ge méigui.
She wants to go to a tattoo parlor and get a rose.

Tips

usage
刺青 is favored in Taiwan and in stylized or literary contexts (it sounds older and more aesthetic). On the mainland 纹身 and 文身 are the everyday words. All three are used interchangeably now.
history
Literally 'pricking green' — classical tattooing used indigo-blue pigment, so (green/blue) refers to the color. The Song-dynasty outlaw 史进 in 《水浒传》 is nicknamed for his nine dragon 刺青.

Stroke Order

qīng