When a famous pop star tried to commemorate her hit song with a Japanese tattoo, she accidentally got the name of a charcoal cooking device instead.
The Story
"I wanted my hit song title tattooed. What I got was a cooking device."
In 2019, a world-famous pop star decided to commemorate her chart-topping hit "7 Rings" with a Japanese tattoo on her palm. She wanted the characters for "seven rings" (七つの指輪). What she got instead was 七輪 (shichirin) – the name of a small charcoal grill used for Japanese barbecue.
The irony? Her own music video had the correct characters. But in her rush to get inked, she left out crucial characters because, as she admitted, "it hurt like f*** and I wouldn't have lasted another symbol."
The Linguistic Breakdown
Here's why this happened:
- 七 (shichi/nana) = Seven
- 輪 (rin/wa) = Ring/Wheel
- 七輪 together = Shichirin, a traditional Japanese charcoal grill
The correct way to write "7 Rings" would be 七つの指輪 (nanatsu no yubiwa), which specifically means "seven finger rings." But when you abbreviate or combine characters incorrectly, you get cooking equipment.
The Failed Fix
When the star tried to fix the tattoo by adding another character, things got worse. Due to the way Japanese is read (top to bottom, right to left), the "fix" created yet another nonsensical phrase: "Japanese BBQ Finger."
Key Takeaways
- Character combinations matter – Two correct characters can create wrong meaning together
- Don't abbreviate – Leaving out characters changes everything
- Verify with multiple native speakers – Not just one person
- Pain is not an excuse – If it hurts too much, don't get the full phrase. Get nothing.
The Cost
Palm tattoos fade quickly due to skin regeneration, so this particular star may have gotten lucky. But for most body locations, laser removal would cost $2,000-6,000 for complete removal. Our verification service costs $19.90.