Revenge in Chinese / Japanese...

This can be translated as revenge, avenge, reprisal or vengeance in Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja.

復讐 is actually a very odd selection for a calligraphy scroll. This would be unusual, if not shocking, to a Japanese or Korean person that views such calligraphy artwork.

We do not recommend this for a wall scroll - it is here for educational and reference purposes only.

These two characters can be translated as revenge, avenge, reprisal or vengeance.

復仇 is actually a very odd selection for a calligraphy scroll. This would be unusual, if not shocking, to a Japanese or Chinese person that views such calligraphy artwork. Also, my Japanese translator has indicated this word is rather obscure in modern Japanese (see our Japanese version of this bad word).

We do not recommend this for a wall scroll - it is here for educational and reference purposes only.

This phase often goes with "An eye for an eye," even in Chinese. Revenge seems to cross all languages, cultures, and even species (animals are known to take revenge too).

If a Chinese person uses just one part of the full proverb, it will be this "tooth for a tooth" one. Although, we are more likely to say "eye for an eye" alone in English.

Chinese people may also read this with a meaning of "Bite me and I will bite you back." However, it literally means "tooth for a tooth" or "you take my tooth, I take yours."

Here's the full proverb, with the first and second parts.

However, in Chinese, it's more natural to put the "tooth" part first, so this more accurately reads "Tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye."

If revenge is important to you, I suppose this is the phase you want on your wall.

This same proverb seems to be used in virtually every language and culture around the world.

Whether you are Arab, Persian, Jewish, European, British, Asian, or American, this proverb is well known as the "original form of justice."