Buy a Go for It calligraphy wall scroll here!
Personalize your custom “Go for It” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Go for It” title below...
1. Angel
3. Better to Choose Nothing, Rather than Make a Poor Choice
5. Bond
6. Boxing
7. Camellia
8. Chess
9. Confucius: Golden Rule / Ethic of Reciprocity
11. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33
12. Double Happiness Guest Book
13. Flying / Flight / Rising Upward
14. A Bright Future
15. Flower Open / Blooming Flower
16. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall
17. Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wither
18. Flowers Fall / The End Comes
21. Four Noble Truths: Desire and Attachment
22. Put out a burning wood cart with a cup of water
23. Industrious / Hard Working
24. Husband and Wife
25. Ikiru / To Live
26. The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering
27. Through the Ups and Downs of Life
28. Let It Be
29. Life Goes On
30. Live Free or Die
31. Love and Respect
32. No Worries
34. One who walks by the river may end up with wet feet
35. Overcome / Surpass / Rise Above
37. Read
38. Release / Let Go
40. Responsibility
41. Great Ambitions
43. Roku-Dan / 6th Degree Black Belt
44. Sho-Dan
46. A sly rabbit has three openings to its den
47. Smooth Sailing
48. Spare No Effort
51. Tranquility Yields Transcendence
52. Better to Travel 10,000 Miles than Read 10,000 Books
53. Trust No One / Trust No Man
54. Overcome: Regardless of the Rain and Wind
55. Regardless of the Weather, We Overcome Troubles Together
56. The Game of Weiqi / Weichi / Go
57. Go With The Flow
58. Ascend
60. Go-Dan / 5th Degree Black Belt
61. Kiwame
62. Resolute Mind
64. Born To Be Wild
65. Nana-Dan / 7th Degree Black Belt
66. Go Kan Ryu
(Name Version 1)
反戰 means antiwar, as in what a pacifist believes in.
China does plenty of saber-rattling but thankfully doesn't go to war very often, and Japan has embraced a pacifist ideology. Therefore, it's rare to need this word. However, this is the kind of word that war protesters would write on their signs.
There is a modern Japanese version of the second character which has become the standard in Japan after WWII. If you want your calligraphy written in the modern Japanese form, please click on the Kanji shown to the right instead of the button above. Note: Most Japanese and all Chinese people will recognize the form shown in the upper left.
寧缺毋濫 is a Chinese proverb that can be translated as “Better to have nothing (than substandard choice).”
It basically suggests that one should prefer to go without something rather than accept a shoddy option.
See Also: A Deliberate Inaction is Better Than a Blind Action
逾 means: to exceed; to go beyond; to transcend; to cross over; to jump over.
You'll see this character used in Buddhism (same meaning).
Technically, this single character is a Japanese word but is seldom used as a single Kanji in modern Japanese.
This Kanji represents a bond, as in the bond between mother and daughter, father and son, family ties, or a family bond.
絆 is the kind of character that says, no matter what happens (difficult times), we have this bond that cannot be broken.
If you go to the Japanese dictionary, the definition is the bonds (between people), (emotional) ties, relationship, connection, link, tether, or fetters.
Read this before ordering...
This Kanji is best if your audience is Japanese. While this is also a Chinese character, it has a completely different meaning in Chinese (it means to hinder or stumble in Chinese).
it’s
a very rare character in Korean Hanja but does mean bond in Korean (used in Korean words for certain kinds of glue and sticking plaster).
拳擊 is the term used in Chinese to refer to the original Olympic sport of combat and fighting.
If you like to strap on your boxing gloves and go a few rounds or are just a fan of boxing, this could make a nice wall scroll for you.
Note that Japanese use the same first character (which means fist) but a different Kanji for the second. Please see our Japanese boxing entry for that version.
カメリア is the name Camellia in Japanese.
This sounds like Camellia, but does not mean the camellia plant or leaf.
Instead of these characters, you may want to go with the name of the plant. Of course, camellia also means tea, as varieties of camellia plants provide the leaves for many kinds of Chinese and Japanese teas.
Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
棋 is the most simple or generic way to write “chess” in Asia.
棋 is part of other more specific words for board games of strategy such as the western version of chess, Chinese chess, Weiqi, or Go.
In Japanese, this single character is pronounced “Go” and often refers to the game known in the west as “Go” (not just the 5-in-a-row version but also the complicated encirclement game of strategy known in China as Weiqi).
In Chinese, this can be more ambiguous as to which game of chess you speak.
If you like any version of chess, or games of intense strategy, this can be the character to hang on the wall in your game room.
Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself
Some may think of this as a “Christian trait,” but actually, it transcends many religions.
This Chinese teaching dates back to about 2,500 years ago in China. Confucius had always taught the belief in being benevolent (ren), but this idea was hard to grasp for some of his students, as benevolence could be kind-heartedness or an essence of humanity itself.
When answering Zhong Gong's question as to what "ren" actually meant, Confucius said:
己所不欲勿施于人 or "When you go out, you should behave as if you were in the presence of a distinguished guest; when people do favors for you, act as if a great sacrifice was made for you. Whatever you wouldn't like done to you, do not do that thing to others. Don't complain at work or home.”
Hearing this, Zhong Gong said humbly, “Although I am not clever, I will do what you say.”
From this encounter, the Chinese version of the “Golden Rule” or “Ethic of Reciprocity” came to be.
The characters you see above express, “Do not do to others whatever you do not want to be done to yourself.”
See Also: Confucius Teachings | Benevolence
禮貌 is a Chinese and old Korean word that means courtesy or politeness.
Courtesy is being polite and having good manners. When you speak and act courteously, you give others a feeling of being valued and respected. Greet people pleasantly. Bring courtesy home. Your family needs it most of all. Courtesy helps life to go smoothly.
If you put the words "fēi cháng bù" in front of this, it is like adding "very much not." it’s a great insult in China, as nobody wants to be called "extremely discourteous" or "very much impolite."
This is referred to as passage or chapter 33 of the Dao De Jing (often Romanized as “Tao Te Ching”).
These are the words of the philosopher Laozi (Lao Tzu).
Notes:
During our research, the Chinese characters shown here are probably the most accurate to the original text of Laozi. These were taken for the most part from the Mawangdui 1973 and Guodan 1993 manuscripts which pre-date other Daodejing texts by about 1000 years.
Grammar was a little different in Laozi’s time. So you should consider this to be the ancient Chinese version. Some have modernized this passage by adding, removing, or swapping articles and changing the grammar (we felt the oldest and most original version would be more desirable). You may find other versions printed in books or online - sometimes these modern texts are simply used to explain to Chinese people what the original text really means.
This language issue can be compared in English by thinking how the King James (known as the Authorized version in Great Britain) Bible from 1611 was written, and comparing it to modern English. Now imagine that the Daodejing was probably written around 403 BCE (2000 years before the King James Version of the Bible). To a Chinese person, the original Daodejing reads like text that is 3 times more detached compared to Shakespeare’s English is to our modern-day speech.
Extended notes:
While on this Biblical text comparison, it should be noted, that just like the Bible, all the original texts of the Daodejing were lost or destroyed long ago. Just as with the scripture used to create the Bible, various manuscripts exist, many with variations or copyist errors. Just as the earliest New Testament scripture (incomplete) is from 170 years after Christ, the earliest Daodejing manuscript (incomplete) is from 100-200 years after the death of Laozi.
The reason that the originals were lost probably has a lot to do with the first Qin Emperor. Upon taking power and unifying China, he ordered the burning and destruction of all books (scrolls/rolls) except those pertaining to Chinese medicine and a few other subjects. The surviving Daodejing manuscripts were either hidden on purpose or simply forgotten about. Some were not unearthed until as late as 1993.
We compared a lot of research by various archeologists and historians before deciding on this as the most accurate and correct version. But one must allow that it may not be perfect, or the actual and original as from the hand of Laozi himself.
Customize a special Asian guest book for your wedding
Start customizing a “Double Happiness Guest Book Wall Scroll” Here!
The paper panel length can be whatever you choose from 68cm to 135cm (27” to 53”).
If you don't mention what paper length you want in the special instructions tab (on the next page), we'll make it about 100cm (40”).
The medium-size scroll with a 33cm x 100cm (13” x 40”) paper panel can usually handle up to 89 signatures. That breaks down to 37 signatures per empty square and 15 signatures around the 囍 character. If you switch to a 135cm paper panel, add another 37 potential signatures.
We can splice two 135cm papers together, but that would be a crazy-long scroll. These are only estimates, your mileage may vary.
With silk panels, this will yield a wall scroll about 155cm (61”) long. That's enough for up to 89 signatures. Of course, that depends on if your guests just sign a brief salutation and name, or more verbose good wishes. Customer feedback is that 126 people can sign the 135cm long paper on a medium-sized scroll. If we go bigger than that, there will be a minor paper seam and an extra charge. Email me with your specifications if you need something special.
Most customers pick the festive red paper with gold flecks and white or ivory silk. Red is a good luck color in Chinese culture, thus the most popular choice. But, you can do any color combination that you want.
There is a long history of Chinese-character-use outside of mainland China. This Double Happiness character is also seen at weddings in Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as in Chinese communities in Thailand, Indonesia, and elsewhere. While Japan borrowed Chinese characters into their language, you won't see 囍 as often at Japanese weddings.
Incredible 10,000-Mile Flight of the Peng
鵬程萬里 is an ancient Chinese proverb used in modern times to wish someone a long and successful career.
It's really about the 10,000 Flight of the Peng (Peng, also known as Roc is a mythical fish that can turn into a bird and take flight).
莊子
Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu
Breaking down each character:
1. Peng or Roc (a kind of bird).
2. Journey (in this case, a flight).
3. 10,000 (Ten Thousand).
4. Li is a unit of distance often referred to as a “Chinese Mile,” though the real distance is about half a kilometer.
Direct Translation: “Peng's Journey [of] 10,000 Li.”
Literal meaning: “The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc.”
Perceived meaning: “To have a bright future” or “To go far.”
This proverb/idiom comes from the book of Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu. It tells the tale of a huge fish that could turn into a gigantic bird. This bird was called a “peng” and was many miles long. This legendary size allowed the Peng to fly from the Northern Sea to the Southern Sea in a single bound.
Wishing someone “a Peng's Journey of 10,000 Li” will imply that they can travel far without stopping and will have great success, a long career, and a prosperous future.
These two characters mean “flower open.”
花開 is also associated with Springtime, the beginning of something, or youth.
花開 is often followed by 花落 or “flower falls” (closes and loses its petals) which means “Things come and go” or “Youth comes and goes.”
If you like flowers and Springtime, this is a great selection for you. However, if you want the companion “flower falls” (flower withers), we offer that as a companion wall scroll or all together as a four-character phrase.
See Also: Flowers Fall
花開花落 is a complete proverb that lightly speaks of the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.
This is used as a metaphor to suggest that youth is a temporary state that in time will pass.
This can also be used to suggest that fortunes can come and go (everything is temporary).
Note: There are two very similar versions of this proverb. The other uses a word that means wither instead of fall.
花は咲き花は散る is a Japanese proverb about the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.
This can be used to suggest that youth, fortune, and life can come and go (everything is temporary).
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
花開花謝 is a complete proverb that lightly speaks of the cycle of life, or how things come and go in life.
This is used as a metaphor to suggest that youth is a temporary state, which in time, will pass.
This proverb can be used to suggest that fortunes can come and go (everything is temporary).
Note: There are two very similar versions of this proverb. The other uses a word that means fall instead of wither.
花落 means flower fall (closes and loses its petals).
It suggests nearing the end of something. A time that some might call “The sunset of life.” 花落 often follows 花開 or “flower open” to talk of the cycle of life.
We offer this as a possible companion to a “flower open” scroll (to be placed side by side or at either side of a doorway to say “things come and go” - a cool metaphor for a doorway). If placed in a doorway, it could be used to suggest to your guests that things bloom when they arrive through your door but wither when they leave (a great compliment).
See Also: Flowers Bloom
飛虎隊 is the full Chinese title of the “Flying Tigers Group.”
These were the American pilots that volunteered to go to China and fight the Japanese before the entry of the USA into World War Two. These fighter pilots were so esteemed in China that fallen American pilots could always find refuge in villages and safe passage and escape to areas of China that were not occupied by Japan at that time. Chinese villagers helped such fallen pilots with full knowledge that when the Japanese occupation forces found out, all the men, women, and children in the village would be massacred by Japanese troops (there are more than a few known cases of such massacres).
The Flying Tigers successfully kept supply lines to the Chinese resistance open and divided Japanese forces at a crucial time while America prepared to join WWII officially.
A wall scroll like this honors the men who risked or gave their lives as noble volunteers and is a reminder of the best moment in the history of Sino-American relations.
These three characters literally mean “flying tiger(s) group/team/squad.”
Note: Hanging these characters on your wall will not make you any friends with Japanese people who are aware or this history (most Japanese have no idea, as Japan’s involvement in WWII has all but been erased from school textbooks in Japan).
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.
Samudaya
集諦 represents the idea that the core of suffering is often the concept of desire or attachment.
This can be carnal desire, monetary desire, or the attachment you have to something that you are unwilling to part with (such as a fancy car). 集諦 is a simplification of the second noble truth which is an exploration into the root causes of suffering - it's deeper than I can go in a few sentences.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Chinese, Japanese and Korean people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment
An utterly inadequate measure
杯水車薪 is a warning against a futile effort.
This proverb literally refers to one who is “trying to put out a burning cart of wood with a cup of water,” or “throw a cup of water on a cartload of wood.” The lesson to be learned is about using the right measure or tool for the job and not wasting your effort if you are inadequately equipped for the task at hand - in other words the postscript should be “go get a bucket or a fire hose.”
愛崗敬業 is used to refer to someone who puts forth maximum effort and achieves much.
We might call this kind of person a “go-getter” in English.
See Also: Dedication | Tenacious | Devotion
夫婦 are the Chinese characters, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji for “Husband and Wife.”
This can also be translated as a married couple, spouses, couple, or pair.
This is not a common selection for a calligraphy wall scroll in Asia but if it has a special meaning for you, go for it.
生きる is a Japanese title that means to live, to exist, to make a living, to subsist, to come to life, or to be enlivened.
生きる is also the title of a 1952 Japanese movie that uses the translated English title of “To Live.”
This term, when used in the context of baseball, and some Japanese games such as “go,” can mean “safe.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
同甘共苦 is a Chinese proverb that talks of “shared delights and common hardships.”
This can be translated and understood in a few different ways, including...
To share life's joys and sorrows.
For better or for worse.
Through joys and sorrows of life.
Through all life's ups and downs.
To go through thick and thin.
To stick together through thick and thin.
To share the joys and sorrows of life.
To share pleasures and pains.
To partake in each other's joys and sorrows.
To take “for better or for worse.”
生活在繼續 means “No matter what happens, life goes on” or “For better or worse, life goes on.”
生活在繼續 is kind of modern Chinese proverb, but the meaning is generational.
生活 = to live; life; livelihood.
在 = (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress).
繼續 = to continue; to proceed with; to go on with.
人生は続く is a Japanese phrase that expresses, “Life Goes On.”
The first two characters mean “life” (literally “human life”).
The third character is a particle that connects the ideas in this phrase.
The last two characters mean “to continue,” “to last,” “to go on,” and “to occur again and again.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
Give me liberty or give me death
不自由毋寧死 means “Give me liberty or give me death” in Chinese.
This is also the best way to say, “Live free or die.”
The characters break down this way:
不 = Not; none; without.
自由 = Freedom; liberty; freewill; self-determination.
毋寧 = Rather; would rather; rather be.
死 = Dead; death.
This will go nicely next to your “Don't tread on me” flag. This phrase is known well enough in China that it's listed in a few dictionaries. Though I doubt you will find too many Chinese citizens willing to yell this on the steps of the capital in Beijing.
See Also: Death Before Dishonor
Love and respect each other
相敬相愛 is an old Chinese proverb that suggests love and respect go together and are to be exchanged between people (especially couples).
The first two characters mean “exchanging respect” or “mutual respect.”
The last two characters create a word that means “to love each other” or “mutual love.”
You'll notice that the first and third characters are the same. So you can read this literally as something like “Exchange respect, exchange love” or “Mutual respect, mutual love.” In English, we'd probably just say, “Mutual love and respect.” Grammar differs in every language - So while the literal translation might sound a bit awkward in English, this phrase is very natural in Chinese.
My Australian friends always say, “No worries, mate.” It's caught on with me, though I drop the “mate” part since it confuses my fellow Americans.
If you would like to express the idea of “no worries,” 放心 is the best and most natural way to say it in Chinese.
The characters you see to the left can be translated as “put your mind at rest” or “to be at ease.” You could literally translate “no worries,” but it doesn't “flow” like this simple Chinese version.
For your info, the first character means to release, to free, to let go, to relax, or to rest. The second character means your heart or your mind.
Note that in Japanese and Korean, this holds the similar meaning of “peace of mind” but can also mean absentmindedness or carelessness, depending on context.
This Japanese title can be translated as “for this time only,” “chance meeting,” “one meeting, one opportunity,” “never again,” or “one chance in a lifetime.”
The characters literally mean “one time one meeting” - of course, the Kanji characters have meaning far beyond a direct translation like this.
Some might use this proverb to talk of an opportunity that presents itself just once in your life. It could also be a one-and-only chance meeting with your true soul mate. An expression of any event that might happen once in a lifetime.
This is primarily a Japanese title, however, there is also a Traditional Chinese (and old Korean) version of this proverb. Just the last character is different.
The traditional form was used in Japan before WWII and in Korea prior to 1900. This title is somewhat known in China.
If you want the older traditional form, just click on the character to the right.
常在河邊走哪能不濕鞋 is an old Chinese proverb that is sometimes compared to the English saying “Shit Happens.”
It's a reflection that there are risks in life, and you should not be surprised when things don't go your way.
A secondary translation might be, “When walking by a river, often one cannot avoid wet shoes.”
In Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja, 超越 means to overcome, surpass, transcendence, excel, exceed, go beyond, rise above, or transcend.
氣功 or Qigong is the title of a technique that is somewhere between medical practice, meditation, and in some cases, religion.
The definition is blurred depending on which school of Qigong you are following. In some cases, it is even incorporated with martial arts.
Some people (even Chinese people) mix this title with Tai Chi (Tai Qi) exercises.
Lately, in China, people will claim to practice Tai Chi rather than Qigong because the Qigong title was recently used as a cover for an illegal pseudo-religious movement in China with the initials F.G. or F.D. (I can not write those names here for fear of our website being banned in China).
You can learn those names and more here: Further info about Qigong
If you are wondering why I wrote “Qi Gong” and “Chi Kung” as the title of this calligraphy entry, I should teach you a little about the various ways in which Chinese can be Romanized. One form writes this as “Chi Kung” or “Chikung” (Taiwan). In the mainland and elsewhere, it is Romanized as “Qi Gong” or “Qigong.” The pronunciation is the same in Taiwan, mainland, and Singapore Mandarin. Neither Romanization is exactly like English. If you want to know how to say this with English rules, it would be something like “Chee Gong” (but the “gong” has a vowel sound like the “O” in “go”).
Romanization is a really confusing topic and has caused many Chinese words to be mispronounced in the west. One example is “Kung Pao Chicken,” which should actually be more like “Gong Bao” with the “O” sounding like “oh” for both characters. Neither the Romanization system in Taiwan nor the Mainland is perfect, in my opinion, and leads to many misunderstandings.
In modern Japan, you may see this written as 気功, but the original 氣功 is still recognized. If you need the Japanese version, please contact me.
閱 is a Chinese character that means to read. It can also refer to observing (the world, and learning from it), or gaining life experiences. 閱 is a good character to relay the idea of being “well-read,” which can include reading books, studying, and learning through experience.
The dictionary definition also includes: to inspect; to review; to peruse; to go through; to experience.
Technically, this is also a Japanese Kanji but only some Japanese Buddhists use it (most of the population will not recognize it).
In Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, this means examining, inspecting, and/or looking over.
放 means to release, to free, to let go, to let out, to set off (fireworks).
In Japanese, this can also be a place called Hanashi
放 is also used in the context of Buddhism.
In Buddhism, this can represent the release of desire, materialism, suffering, or mortality.
眉を開く is a Japanese proverb and expression that means “to feel relieved,” “to forget about one's troubles,” or “to settle into peace of mind.”
The literal words suggest relaxing your eyebrows or face. Allow worry or concern to go away, and just be content with “letting it be.”
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
責任 is the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean word for “responsibility.”
責任 can also refer to someone who is willing to take the blame when things go wrong (instead of making excuses or passing the blame to someone else). While this is a noble idea, I think it is getting rare these days in both eastern and western cultures.
Also associated with the idea of "duty."
Brave the wind and the waves
乘風破浪 is a Chinese proverb that represents having great ambitions.
The British might say “to plough through.” Another way to understand it is “surmount all difficulties and forge ahead courageously.”
This can also be translated as “braving the wind and waves,” “to brave the wind and the billows,” “to ride the wind and crest the waves,” or “to be ambitious and unafraid.”
Literally, it reads: “ride (like a chariot) [the] wind [and] break/cleave/cut [the] waves,” or “ride [the] wind [and] slash [through the] waves.”
乘風破浪 is a great proverb to encourage yourself or someone else not to be afraid of problems or troubles, and when you have a dream, just go for it.
There is an alternate version, 長風破浪, but 乘風破浪 is far more common.
河東獅吼 is actually a proverb and joke about the plight and fear of a hen-pecked husband.
In ancient times, it was used to describe a wife who would berate her husband or go into jealous rages. However, this phrase currently brings about ideas of a husband that cowers in fear and cringes when his wife screams (or roars) at him.
Please only purchase this as a good-natured joke. If your wife or husband does not have a good sense of humor, it's probably not a good idea to hang this on your wall to irritate your mate.
六段 is the Japanese title for the 6th Degree or 6th Level.
This applies mostly to martial arts and earning the title of a 6th-degree black belt.
The first character is simply the number 6.
The second character is “dan” which is often translated as “degree” in the context of Japanese martial arts. 六段 means grade, rank, level. When a number is in front like this, it refers to a senior rank in martial arts or games of strategy such as go, shogi, chess, etc.
安息 means to rest, to go to sleep, to rest peacefully, or in repose, in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
-or- The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair
狡兔三窟 speaks to the cunning character of a sly rabbit. Such a rabbit will not have just one hole but rather a few entrances and exits from his liar.
About 2,250 years ago, a rich man told his assistant to go and buy something wonderful that he did not yet possess. He was a man that already had everything, so the assistant went to a local village that owed a great deal of money to the rich man. The assistant told the village elders that all debts were forgiven. All the villagers rejoiced and praised the rich man's name. The assistant returned to the rich man and told him he had purchased “benevolence” for him. The rich man was mildly amused but perhaps slightly confused by the action.
Sometime later, the rich man fell from the favor of the Emperor and was wiped out without a penny to his name. One day he was walking aimlessly and stumbled into the village where the debts had been forgiven. The villagers recognized the man and welcomed him with open arms, clothed, fed him, and gave him a place to live.
Without trying, the man had become like the sly and cunning rabbit. When his exit was blocked, he had another hole to emerge from - and was reborn. This story and idiom come from a book titled “The Amendment” - it's unclear whether this man actually existed or not. But the book did propel this idiom into common use in China.
Still today, this idiom about the rabbit is used in China when suggesting “backup plans,” alternate methods, and anyone with a good escape plan.
一帆風順 is just what you think it means. It suggests that you are on a trouble-free voyage through life, or literally on a sailing ship or sailboat. It is often used in China as a wish for good luck on a voyage or as you set out on a new quest or career in your life. Some may use this in place of “bon voyage.”
The literal meaning is “Once you raise your sail, you will get the wind you need, and it will take you where you want to go.” Another way to translate it is “Your sail and the wind follow your will.”
This is a great gift for a mariner, sailor, adventurer, or someone starting a new career.
Note: Can be understood in Korean Hanja but is rarely used.
See Also: Bon Voyage | Adventure | Travel
盟友 means a sworn friend or ally. If you stand on the same side of an issue with someone and perhaps fight for the same cause together, this is the term you would use to describe such a partner.
There may not be a personal relationship, as this term is also used to describe whole countries that make a coalition or fight against a common enemy.
This would be most appropriate if you are a high-level military officer, giving this wall scroll to an officer of another country as you join forces together and go to war.
一切都將過去 is a phrase that means “this too shall pass” in Chinese.
This should be a reminder on your wall that no matter how bad things get, difficulties in life are transient and will go away in time.
This is not the only way to express this idea, as there are also 这一切都会过去 and 一切都会过去.
The version we are using here is more traditional sounding.
寧靜致遠 is an ancient Chinese idiom that means “tranquility yields transcendence.”
This suggests pursuing a quiet life of profound study.
The first two characters mean tranquility. The last two characters mean “go far,” which suggests achieving much in your life or expanding beyond normal limits. The direct translation would read something like, “[With] tranquility [in your life, you'll] go far.”
Compare this to the English idiom: Still waters run deep.
行万里路胜读万卷书 translates a few ways:
To travel ten thousand miles beats reading ten-thousand books.
Better to travel ten thousand li than to read ten thousand books. (a “li” is an ancient Chinese mile)
Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books.
No matter how you slice it, this Chinese proverb is claiming that experience is more profound and meaningful than what you can get from a book. Go do it! Don't just read about it.
無法信任 is the kind of thing you expect to hear in a spy movie.
“Trust no one, 007!”
The first two characters express the idea of “no way” or “cannot.”
The last two characters mean “trust.”
The characters must go in this order due to Chinese grammar issues and in order to sound natural.
Note: This is not an ancient Chinese phrase by any means. It's just that we received a lot of requests for this phrase.
This is as close as you can get to the phrase “trust no man,” though technically, no gender is specified.
風雨無阻 is a proverb that is often translated as “Go ahead as planned regardless of the weather” or, “[Overcome] despite the rain and wind.”
This is a Chinese proverb that suggests that you are willing (or should be willing) to overcome any adversity, and accomplish your task at hand.
There is a second/optional part to this phrase that suggests that you should do this together with someone (see our other 8-character version if you want the full phrase).
The first four characters are often translated as “Go ahead as planned regardless of the weather” or, “[Overcome] despite the rain and wind.” The last four characters can mean “Stick together” but literally means “Take the same boat [together].”
風雨無阻同舟共濟 is a Chinese proverb that suggests that you are willing (or should be willing) to overcome any adversity, and accomplish your task at hand. The second part (last four characters) is sometimes left off but this second part strongly suggests that you should overcome that adversity together.
圍棋 is the Chinese title for the ancient game of strategy known as Weiqi or Wei Chi in Chinese and Go in Japanese.
Note: In Japanese, this game is known by a different single Kanji as seen to the right. If you want this Japanese "Go" character, click the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.
上昇 means to rise up, to go up, or to ascend in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
If you are rising, ascending, or climbing, this is the word for you.
In the older Buddhist context, this means to ascend, with the implication that the destination is the heavenly realm.
萬事如意 is a Chinese and old Korean proverb that means to have all one's wishes.
When speaking to someone, it's a way to say best wishes, all the best, may all your hopes be fulfilled, or may everything go well.
On your wall as calligraphy, it's meant to inspire all your wishes, hopes, dreams, and life to go well or come true.
決定心 means the mind of certainty, resolute mind, imperturbable mind, firm determination, firm resolution, or stable commitment.
In the context of Buddhism, this is the deep resolution needed to attain enlightenment.
If you go to a deeper meaning, this is a condition of settling into the thought that occurs in the process of perception subsequent to the “seeking mind” or “尋求心.”
五輪書 is the Japanese title for “The Book of Five Rings.”
五輪書 is a martial arts treatise by Miyamoto Musashi written around 1643.
Technically, these three characters are “Go Rin Sho” but an unwritten “の” or “no” which is a possessive article like the English “of” is verbally added by most Japanese. Therefore, many write this in Romaji as “Go Rin No Sho.”
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The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Angel | 安琪兒 安琪儿 | ān qí ér an1 qi2 er2 an qi er anqier | an ch`i erh anchierh an chi erh |
|
Antiwar Anti-War | 反戰 反战 / 反戦 | han sen / hansen | fǎn zhàn / fan3 zhan4 / fan zhan / fanzhan | fan chan / fanchan |
Better to Choose Nothing, Rather than Make a Poor Choice | 寧缺毋濫 宁缺毋滥 | nìng quē wú làn ning4 que1 wu2 lan4 ning que wu lan ningquewulan | ning ch`üeh wu lan ningchüehwulan ning chüeh wu lan |
|
Beyond Exceed Surpass | 逾 | yu | yú / yu2 / yu | yü |
Bond | 絆 绊 | kizuna | bàn / ban4 / ban | pan |
Boxing | 拳擊 拳击 | quán jī / quan2 ji1 / quan ji / quanji | ch`üan chi / chüanchi / chüan chi | |
Camellia | カメリア | kameria | ||
Chess | 棋 | go | qí / qi2 / qi | ch`i / chi |
Chess | 西洋将棋 | seiyoushougi seiyoshogi | ||
Chess | 西洋棋 | xī yáng qí xi1 yang2 qi2 xi yang qi xiyangqi | hsi yang ch`i hsiyangchi hsi yang chi |
|
Confucius: Golden Rule Ethic of Reciprocity | 己所不欲勿施於人 己所不欲勿施于人 | jǐ suǒ bú yù wù shī yú rén ji3 suo3 bu2 yu4, wu4 shi1 yu2 ren2 ji suo bu yu, wu shi yu ren jisuobuyu,wushiyuren | chi so pu yü, wu shih yü jen chisopuyü,wushihyüjen |
|
Courtesy Politeness | 禮貌 礼貌 | lǐ mào / li3 mao4 / li mao / limao | ||
Daodejing Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33 | 知人者知也自知者明也勝人者有力也自勝者強也知足者富也強行者有志也不失其所者久也死而不亡者壽也 知人者知也自知者明也胜人者有力也自胜者强也知足者富也强行者有志也不失其所者久也死而不亡者寿也 | zhī rén zhě zhī yě zì zhī zhě míng yě shèng rén zhě yǒu lì yě zì shèng zhě qiáng yě zhī zú zhě fù yě qiáng xíng zhě yǒu zhì yě bù zhī qí suǒ zhě jiǔ yě sǐ ér bù wáng zhě shòu yě zhi1 ren2 zhe3 zhi1 ye3 zi4 zhi1 zhe3 ming2 ye3 sheng4 ren2 zhe3 you3 li4 ye3 zi4 sheng4 zhe3 qiang2 ye3 zhi1 zu2 zhe3 fu4 ye3 qiang2 xing2 zhe3 you3 zhi4 ye3 bu4 zhi1 qi2 suo3 zhe3 jiu3 ye3 si3 er2 bu4 wang2 zhe3 shou4 ye3 zhi ren zhe zhi ye zi zhi zhe ming ye sheng ren zhe you li ye zi sheng zhe qiang ye zhi zu zhe fu ye qiang xing zhe you zhi ye bu zhi qi suo zhe jiu ye si er bu wang zhe shou ye | chih jen che chih yeh tzu chih che ming yeh sheng jen che yu li yeh tzu sheng che ch`iang yeh chih tsu che fu yeh ch`iang hsing che yu chih yeh pu chih ch`i so che chiu yeh ssu erh pu wang che shou yeh chih jen che chih yeh tzu chih che ming yeh sheng jen che yu li yeh tzu sheng che chiang yeh chih tsu che fu yeh chiang hsing che yu chih yeh pu chih chi so che chiu yeh ssu erh pu wang che shou yeh |
|
Double Happiness Guest Book | 囍 喜喜 | xǐ / xi3 / xi | hsi | |
Flying Flight Rising Upward | 飛揚 飞扬 | hi you / hiyou / hi yo | fēi yáng / fei1 yang2 / fei yang / feiyang | |
A Bright Future | 鵬程萬里 鹏程万里 | péng chéng wàn lǐ peng2 cheng2 wan4 li3 peng cheng wan li pengchengwanli | p`eng ch`eng wan li pengchengwanli peng cheng wan li |
|
Flower Open Blooming Flower | 花開 花开 | huā kāi / hua1 kai1 / hua kai / huakai | hua k`ai / huakai / hua kai | |
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall | 花開花落 花开花落 | huā kāi huā luò hua1 kai1 hua1 luo4 hua kai hua luo huakaihualuo | hua k`ai hua lo huakaihualo hua kai hua lo |
|
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall | 花は咲き花は散る | hana wa sa ki hana wa chi ru hanawasakihanawachiru | ||
Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wither | 花開花謝 花开花谢 | huā kāi huā xiè hua1 kai1 hua1 xie4 hua kai hua xie huakaihuaxie | hua k`ai hua hsieh huakaihuahsieh hua kai hua hsieh |
|
Flowers Fall The End Comes | 花落 | huā sà / hua1 luo4 / hua luo / hualuo | hua lo / hualo | |
Flying Tigers AVG | 飛虎隊 飞虎队 | fēi hǔ duì fei1 hu3 dui4 fei hu dui feihudui | fei hu tui feihutui |
|
Forgive and Forget | 略跡原情 略迹原情 | lüè jì yuán qíng lve4 ji4 yuan2 qing2 lve ji yuan qing lvejiyuanqing | chi yüan ch`ing chiyüanching chi yüan ching |
|
Four Noble Truths: Desire and Attachment | 集諦 集谛 | jittai | jí dì / ji2 di4 / ji di / jidi | chi ti / chiti |
Put out a burning wood cart with a cup of water | 杯水車薪 杯水车薪 | bēi shuǐ chē xīn bei1 shui3 che1 xin1 bei shui che xin beishuichexin | pei shui ch`e hsin peishuichehsin pei shui che hsin |
|
Industrious Hard Working | 愛崗敬業 爱岗敬业 | ài gǎng jìng yè ai4 gang3 jing4 ye4 ai gang jing ye aigangjingye | ai kang ching yeh aikangchingyeh |
|
Husband and Wife | 夫婦 | fuu fu / fuufu / fu fu | fū fù / fu1 fu4 / fu fu / fufu | |
Ikiru To Live | 生きる | ikiru | ||
The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering | 獲得永生的鑰匙是先要活得精彩 获得永生的钥匙是先要活得精彩 | huò dé yǒng shēng de yào shí shì xiān yào huó dé jīng cǎi huo4 de2 yong3 sheng1 de yao4 shi2 shi4 xian1 yao4 huo2 de2 jing1 cai3 huo de yong sheng de yao shi shi xian yao huo de jing cai | huo te yung sheng te yao shih shih hsien yao huo te ching ts`ai huo te yung sheng te yao shih shih hsien yao huo te ching tsai |
|
Through the Ups and Downs of Life | 同甘共苦 | tóng gān gòng kǔ tong2 gan1 gong4 ku3 tong gan gong ku tonggangongku | t`ung kan kung k`u tungkankungku tung kan kung ku |
|
Let It Be | 算了 | suàn le / suan4 le5 / suan le / suanle | ||
Life Goes On | 生活在繼續 生活在继续 | shēng huó zài jì xù sheng1 huo2 zai4 ji4 xu4 sheng huo zai ji xu shenghuozaijixu | sheng huo tsai chi hsü shenghuotsaichihsü |
|
Life Goes On | 人生は続く | jin sei ha tsudu ku jinseihatsuduku | ||
Live Free or Die | 不自由毋寧死 不自由毋宁死 | bú zì yóu wú nìng sǐ bu2 zi4 you2 wu2 ning4 si3 bu zi you wu ning si buziyouwuningsi | pu tzu yu wu ning ssu putzuyuwuningssu |
|
Love and Respect | 相敬相愛 相亲相爱 | xiāng jìng xiāng ài xiang1 jing4 xiang1 ai4 xiang jing xiang ai xiangjingxiangai | hsiang ching hsiang ai hsiangchinghsiangai |
|
No Worries | 放心 | houshin / hoshin | fàng xīn / fang4 xin1 / fang xin / fangxin | fang hsin / fanghsin |
Once in a Lifetime | 一期一會 一期一会 | ichigo ichie ichigoichie | yī qī yī huì yi1 qi1 yi1 hui4 yi qi yi hui yiqiyihui | i ch`i i hui ichiihui i chi i hui |
One who walks by the river may end up with wet feet | 常在河邊走哪能不濕鞋 常在河边走哪能不湿鞋 | cháng zài hé biān zǒu nǎ néng bù shī xié chang2 zai4 he2 bian1 zou3 na3 neng2 bu4 shi1 xie2 chang zai he bian zou na neng bu shi xie | ch`ang tsai ho pien tsou na neng pu shih hsieh chang tsai ho pien tsou na neng pu shih hsieh |
|
Overcome Surpass Rise Above | 超越 | chou etsu / chouetsu / cho etsu | chāo yuè / chao1 yue4 / chao yue / chaoyue | ch`ao yüeh / chaoyüeh / chao yüeh |
Qi Gong Chi Kung | 氣功 气功 | ki kou / kikou / ki ko | qì gōng / qi4 gong1 / qi gong / qigong | ch`i kung / chikung / chi kung |
Read | 閱 阅 | yuè / yue4 / yue | yüeh | |
Release Let Go | 放 | hana / pang | fàng / fang4 / fang | |
Let It Be Be Relieved | 眉を開く | mayu o hira ku mayuohiraku | ||
Responsibility | 責任 责任 | sekinin | zé rèn / ze2 ren4 / ze ren / zeren | tse jen / tsejen |
Great Ambitions | 乘風破浪 乘风破浪 | chéng fēng pò làng cheng2 feng1 po4 lang4 cheng feng po lang chengfengpolang | ch`eng feng p`o lang chengfengpolang cheng feng po lang |
|
The Roar of the Lioness | 河東獅吼 河东狮吼 | hé dōng shī hǒu he2 dong1 shi1 hou3 he dong shi hou hedongshihou | ho tung shih hou hotungshihhou |
|
Roku-Dan 6th Degree Black Belt | 六段 | roku dan / rokudan | ||
Sho-Dan | 初段 | sho dan / shodan | ||
Sleep Rest Repose | 安息 | an soku / ansoku | ān xī / an1 xi1 / an xi / anxi | an hsi / anhsi |
A sly rabbit has three openings to its den | 狡兔三窟 | jiǎo tù sān kū jiao3 tu4 san1 ku1 jiao tu san ku jiaotusanku | chiao t`u san k`u chiaotusanku chiao tu san ku |
|
Smooth Sailing | 一帆風順 一帆风顺 | yī fán fēng shùn yi1 fan2 feng1 shun4 yi fan feng shun yifanfengshun | i fan feng shun ifanfengshun |
|
Spare No Effort | 不遺餘力 / 不遺余力 不遗余力 | bù yí yú lì bu4 yi2 yu2 li4 bu yi yu li buyiyuli | pu i yü li puiyüli |
|
Sworn Friend Ally | 盟友 | meiyuu / meiyu | méng yǒu / meng2 you3 / meng you / mengyou | meng yu / mengyu |
This Too Shall Pass | 一切都將過去 一切都将过去 | yī qiè dōu jiāng guò qù yi1 qie4 dou1 jiang1 guo4 qu4 yi qie dou jiang guo qu yiqiedoujiangguoqu | i ch`ieh tou chiang kuo ch`ü ichiehtouchiangkuochü i chieh tou chiang kuo chü |
|
Tranquility Yields Transcendence | 寧靜致遠 宁静致远 | níng jìng zhì yuǎn ning2 jing4 zhi4 yuan3 ning jing zhi yuan ningjingzhiyuan | ning ching chih yüan ningchingchihyüan |
|
Better to Travel 10,000 Miles than Read 10,000 Books | 行萬里路勝讀萬捲書 行万里路胜读万卷书 | xíng wàn lǐ lù shèng dú wàn juǎn shū xing2 wan4 li3 lu4 sheng4 du2 wan4 juan3 shu1 xing wan li lu sheng du wan juan shu | hsing wan li lu sheng tu wan chüan shu | |
Trust No One Trust No Man | 無法信任 无法信任 | wú fǎ xìn rèn wu2 fa3 xin4 ren4 wu fa xin ren wufaxinren | wu fa hsin jen wufahsinjen |
|
Overcome: Regardless of the Rain and Wind | 風雨無阻 风雨无阻 | fēng yǔ wú zǔ feng1 yu3 wu2 zu3 feng yu wu zu fengyuwuzu | feng yü wu tsu fengyüwutsu |
|
Regardless of the Weather, We Overcome Troubles Together | 風雨無阻同舟共濟 风雨无阻同舟共济 | fēng yǔ wú zǔ tóng zhōu gòng jì feng1 yu3 wu2 zu3 tong2 zhou1 gong4 ji4 feng yu wu zu tong zhou gong ji fengyuwuzutongzhougongji | feng yü wu tsu t`ung chou kung chi feng yü wu tsu tung chou kung chi |
|
The Game of Weiqi Weichi Go | 圍棋 围棋 | wéi qí / wei2 qi2 / wei qi / weiqi | wei ch`i / weichi / wei chi | |
Go With The Flow | 波に乗る | namininoru | ||
Go With The Flow | 隨波逐流 随波逐流 | suí bō zhú liú sui2 bo1 zhu2 liu2 sui bo zhu liu suibozhuliu | sui po chu liu suipochuliu |
|
Ascend | 上昇 上升 | joushou / josho | shàng shēng shang4 sheng1 shang sheng shangsheng | |
All Hopes Fulfilled | 萬事如意 万事如意 | wàn shì rú yì wan4 shi4 ru2 yi4 wan shi ru yi wanshiruyi | wan shih ju i wanshihjui |
|
Go-Dan 5th Degree Black Belt | 五段 | go dan / godan | ||
Kiwame | 極め | kiwa me / kiwame | ||
Resolute Mind | 決定心 决定心 | ketsujou shin ketsujoushin ketsujo shin | jué dìng xīn jue2 ding4 xin1 jue ding xin juedingxin | chüeh ting hsin chüehtinghsin |
The Book of Five Rings | 五輪書 | go rin sho / gorinsho | ||
Born To Be Wild | ワイルドでいこう | wairudode ikou wairudodeikou wairudode iko | ||
Nana-Dan 7th Degree Black Belt | 七段 | nana dan / nanadan | ||
Go Kan Ryu | 剛完流 | gou kan ryuu goukanryuu go kan ryu | ||
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Go for It Kanji, Go for It Characters, Go for It in Mandarin Chinese, Go for It Characters, Go for It in Chinese Writing, Go for It in Japanese Writing, Go for It in Asian Writing, Go for It Ideograms, Chinese Go for It symbols, Go for It Hieroglyphics, Go for It Glyphs, Go for It in Chinese Letters, Go for It Hanzi, Go for It in Japanese Kanji, Go for It Pictograms, Go for It in the Chinese Written-Language, or Go for It in the Japanese Written-Language.
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