Kanji for Student

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[JamesC]

Looking for kanji to describe a student. Or maybe learner, always learning, something to that affect.

The tattoo thread reminded me of this. I'm wanting to get something that describes someone who is constantly learning, always evolving. It has kind of a philosophical meaning to me. Kind of a daily reminder to keep myself humble and that there is something to learn from everyone.

Anyone that could help me out with that?

[John Matsushima]

生徒, or seito,　is the kanji for student. I'm not sure about all the deeper stuff you mentioned.

[nekobaka]

if it's aikido, it's deshi 弟子, but any of the student kanji aren't really tattoo material. Maybe 修業者　(shugyousha) has a connotation of a student on a path to spiritual enlightenment. Don't get 生徒 as a tattoo, anyone who can read japanese would laugh. No offense, John, but you have to be careful if it's a tattoo.

Osensei said that practicing aikido is a kind of shugyou or spiritual training, that makes it kind of relevant.

[Beard of Chuck Norris]

学生

;)

[oisin bourke]

初心者　(shoshinsha) has nice kanji. It means "beginner." It may
be overly humble, though.

[boyana]

初心者　(shoshinsha) has nice kanji. It means "beginner." It may
be overly humble, though.
I like this!

[Lan Powers]

I knew a lady who was actually named Deshi once.....

[Mato-san]

魔
hard effort

[aikispike]

. Don't get 生徒 as a tattoo, anyone who can read japanese would laugh. No offense, John, but you have to be careful if it's a tattoo.


I really hope no one takes advice from aikiweb about a tatoo without doing some serious follow up work.

There are some Japanese/kanji characters that have deep budo meaning from historical or cultural perspective. We get lecures on some of them in kenshu class, and its interesting enough to learn about them; not enough that I would permanently ink myself with any of them but I suppose that other people might.

On the other hand, there are characters that have no meaning or significance from a budo perspective. But people assume they do. I suppose if it means something to you that is fine, but you should realize that you are just making it up.

Spike

[Ethan Weisgard]

Please also consider that tattoos in Japanese culture still give a rather negative impression. They were traditionally only worn by yakuza and firemen. Young Japanese are now getting tattooed, but if you are planning to move in Budo circles - especially Aikido - in Japan at some time, you might also want to think about the effect of having a tattoo done will have.

In aiki,

Ethan Weisgard

[KamiKaze_Evolution]

内弟子 = uchi deshi
外弟子 = soto deshi