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If you've ever wondered if that tattoo artist lied to you, this guide will help set the record straight.

Step 1: Understand kanji
Understand that Japanese calligraphy symbols, or kanji, are simply basic representations of everyday objects; essentially, they are pictographs.

Tip
Remember that, although Japanese kanji and Mandarin Chinese symbols are similar, the translations are often vastly different.

Step 2: Focus on larger characters
Focus on the larger parts of a character rather than smaller strokes or dots -- these carry more meaning.

Step 3: Look for familiar pictures
Look for familiar objects in nature, such as the kanji for "mountain" with three vertical lines, or the kanji for "sun," a box with one horizontal line.

Step 4: Separate into parts
Separate the whole character into parts. This can mean breaking the top and bottom apart or separating multiple characters.

Tip
Two or more symbols can be smashed together to form a single word -- the kanji for "big" and "school" are combined to form "college."

Step 5: Take a class or buy a dictionary
Take a class and buy a dictionary. A little studying can help you understand more than you think.

Did You Know?
There are an estimated 1.2 million people of Japanese descent living in the United States.

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