3/ 100
What a Japanese person actually thinksThe single funniest thing you can have tattooed on you, and one of the most famous Japanese tattoo failures in existence. Every Japanese person who sees it will read 'FREE — NO CHARGE' and will have to work not to laugh.
Meaning
- Literally
- no + fee
- Actually
- Free of charge. Zero cost. It is the word on a sign outside a shop offering free samples.
Scores
Naturalness●●●●●
Impeccable Japanese. That's the whole problem — it flawlessly says a thing you did not mean.
Coolness●●●●●
It is, admittedly, a great story. That is the only point available.
Watch out
- highEnglish 'free' has two unrelated meanings. Japanese splits them: 無料 is free-of-charge, 自由 is free-as-in-liberty. A dictionary that gives you 無料 for 'freedom' has failed you.
Get this instead
-
自由
jiyū
freedom; libertyThe word you actually wanted. Two characters, clean, correct.
-
自由奔放
jiyū honpō
free and unrestrainedIf you want freedom as a way of living rather than an abstract right.
On skin
無料
Orientation: either
N/A — do not.