This proverb suggests that one should always be grateful to those who helped one succeed.

And remember your ancestors and those that came before you whose sacrifices made your present life better.

Some Chinese will separate the intended meaning from this proverb and translate this as “Don't forget the people who once helped you.” In Modern China, this idiom is virtually never used to refer to an actual well.

Note: This can be pronounced in Korean but it's not a commonly used phrase.

This single character means “forgive” in Chinese.

In Korean, this kind of means forgive but also has slightly different definitions of considering, excuse, faithful or believe.

This two-character word means “forgive” in Chinese.

It can also be defined as “to pardon” or “to excuse.” 原諒 is a kind of general forgiveness.

饒恕 is a Chinese word that is a kind of forgiveness that you would beg for like a servant begging a master.

This can also be the forgiveness that a person would beg from the king or God.

This word suggests that this is forgiveness for something really bad (a terrible crime or sin).

寛恕 is a word of Chinese origin means forgive or forgiveness.

寬恕 is a deep kind of forgiveness from the bottom of your heart.

In a religious context, this is the kind of forgiveness that you beg God for and that God grants you.

In Korean Hanja, this can also be defined as forbearance or leniency.

In Japanese Kanji, beyond forgiveness, this can also mean magnanimity or generosity.

While we don't actively recommend Asian tattoos, this would be the forgiveness title that is best for a tattoo in most cases.

Note: The first character can also be written in the form shown to the right (especially in Japanese). If you have a preference, please let us know in the "special instructions" when you place your order.

略跡原情 is a Chinese proverb that means “to overlook past faults,” or “forgive and forget.”

It's more literally, “Abridge or make small the scars from your past emotions.” You should let it go.

The character breakdown:
略 (lüè) abbreviation; omission; abridge.
跡 (jī) ruins; scar; traces.
原 (yuán) former.
情 (qíng) feeling; emotion.

不念舊惡 is a Chinese proverb that can be translated as “Do not recall old grievances,” or more simply as “Forgive and forget.”

The character breakdown:
不 (bù) not; no; don't.
念 (niàn) read aloud.
舊 (jiù) old; former.
惡 (è) wicked deeds; grievances; sins.

This proverb comes from the Analects of Confucius.

水に流す is a Japanese proverb that suggests that “water continues to flow.”

It's similar to our English phrase, “Water under the bridge.” The perceived meaning is, “Forgive and forget.”

I have also seen this translated as “Don't cry over spilled milk.”

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

原諒我的罪孽 is a religious phrase, which means exactly what the title suggests.

See Also:  Christian

原諒自己 is how to write “forgive yourself” in Chinese.

The first two characters mean “to excuse,” “to forgive,” or “to pardon.”

The last two characters mean “self” (reflexive pronoun), “yourself,” or “oneself.”

我を許す is how to write “forgive yourself” in Japanese.

The first two characters mean “regarding myself.”

The last two characters mean “to forgive,” “to excuse (from),” “to pardon,” “to release,” “to let off,” “to permit,” “to allow,” and/or “to approve.”

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

容赦 is the kind of forgiveness that a king might give to his subjects for crimes or wrong-doings.

容赦 is a rather high-level forgiveness. Meaning that it goes from a higher level to a lower (not the reverse).

Alone, the first character can mean “to bear,” “to allow,” and/or “to tolerate,” and the second can mean “to forgive,” “to pardon,” and/or “to excuse.”

When you put both characters together, you get forgiveness, pardon, mercy, leniency, or going easy (on someone).

See Also:  Benevolence

恕 means to forgive, show mercy, absolve, or excuse in Chinese and Korean Hanja (though mostly used in compound words in Korean).

恕 incorporates the pictogram of a heart at the bottom, and a woman and a mouth at the top. The heart portion has the most significance, as it is suggested that it is the heart's nature to forgive.
In Asian culture, as with most other cultures, forgiveness is an act of benevolence and altruism. In forgiving, you put yourself in someone else's shoes and show them the kindness that you would want them to show you. Confucius referred to this quality as “human-heartedness.”

神様お許しを is how to write “God Forgive Me” in Japanese.

There is an essence of humble begging or “please” implied in this phrase.

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

仁恕 is a word in Chinese and Japanese that means something like benevolence with magnanimity or kindness with a forgiving nature.

If this describes you, then you are the type of person that I would like to call my friend.

This may not be the most common word in daily use, but it's old enough that it transcended cultures from China to Japan in the 5th century when Japan lacked a written language and absorbed Chinese characters and words into their language.
Note: 仁恕 is not commonly used in Korean.

初心忘るべからず is an old Japanese proverb that suggests you try to never forget the enthusiasm you had as a child when you try new things (or even face the day-to-day). Basically, avoid having the mundane attitude that many people get with age.

You'll find this Japanese proverb translated in a few different ways. Here are some of them:
Don't forget your first resolution.
Never forget your childlike enthusiasm.
Forget not the beginner's mind.
Try never to lose your initial enthusiasm (freshness of attitude).

Note: This is sometimes written as 初心忘る可からず. The one shown above is used about 10x more often. There’s only one character difference between the two versions.

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

This title is used almost exclusively in a Buddhist context (not all Chinese or Japanese people will recognize it).

常不忘失 means “Never forget your vow/path” in Chinese characters and Japanese Kanji.

If you are looking for forgiveness, 請原諒 is what you would say to ask/beg for it.

Note: This is a strange thing to write on a wall scroll for Chinese people - but you can bend the rules if you want in the west.

お許しを is how to write “Please Forgive Me,” in Japanese.

Often, Japanese Christians will add “God” (Kamisama) in front of this.

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

永志不忘 literally translates as “forever remember, never forget.”

But most will just understand this as “never forget” or “never forgotten” in Chinese.