Kanji tattoos are basically ideographic characters. What this means is that each Kanji character represents a WHOLE object, idea, or meaning in a visually expressive way. Kanjis are a popular choice among those seeking Japanese style tattoo designs. With Kanji style characters, you can easily create and express nearly any meaning you want.
However, it is a good idea to keep in mind before you decide upon a tattoo that kanji is based on a different form of language and is unlike English in its construction. The written Japanese and Chinese languages are composed not of individual letters but of ideographs or pictographs. Some characters consist of more than 30 strokes.
If you don’t speak Japanese it is very hard to find characters that say what you want and are not something that will turn heads with native japanese speakers for all the wrong reasons. Kanjis are not really a traditional Japanese tattoo more a style of tattoo. If you are getting a kanji be sure that what you are getting done is not just something that means a lot to you and is going to age well but is accurate in its meaning.
The popularity of kanjis in the West shows no sign of slowing down nor has it necessarily impressed many of those who speak or read Japanese or Chinese fluently. Kanjis may look cool to non Japanese or Chinese speakers but don't always make sense to native speakers.
Bottom line...
Be sure what you are getting means EXACTLY what you think it does!
Source : http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/kanji-tattoos.html
