50 Korean Script Tattoo Ideas (Meaning & Romanization) | Mama Ink
A curated list of 50 popular Korean script (Hangul & Hanja) tattoo ideas with accurate meanings, romanization, design tips, and placement guidance—perfect for walk-ins in Seoul.
Why Korean Script?
Korean Hangul offers clean geometry and soft curves that read beautifully at small sizes, while Hanja (Chinese characters used in Korean) gives a classic, calligraphic feel with strong visual impact. Below you’ll find short, meaningful words and phrases with romanization and quick notes so you can avoid awkward translations.
Format: Hangul / Hanja | Romanization — Meaning — Notes
1) Values & Virtues
사랑 / 愛 | sarang — Love — Timeless; pairs well with dates/initials
용기 / 勇氣 | yonggi — Courage — Strong, compact shapes
평화 / 平和 | pyeonghwa — Peace — Calm vibe
인내 / 忍耐 | innae — Perseverance — Deep, steady tone
자유 / 自由 | jayu — Freedom — Minimal, gender-neutral
희망 / 希望 | huimang — Hope — Bright, optimistic
믿음 / 信 | mideum — Faith/Trust — Works as pair tattoo
감사 | gamsa — Gratitude — Warm everyday nuance
2) Self & Identity
나답게 | nadapge — Be myself — Casual, gentle
본질 | bonjil — Essence — Philosophical
진정성 | jinjeongseong — Authenticity — Sincere tone
자존감 | jajongam — Self-esteem — Modern self-care feel
스스로 | seuseuro — On my own — Independence
3) Nature
산 | san — Mountain — Ultra clean single glyph
바다 | bada — Sea — Soft sound & look
별 | byeol — Star — Great as a mini
달 | dal — Moon — Neutral, poetic
바람 | baram — Wind — Flowing lines
꽃 | kkot — Flower — Looks best ≥8 mm height
4) Relationships & Feelings
우정 / 友情 | ujeong — Friendship — Simple, balanced
행복 | haengbok — Happiness — Cheerful
평온 | pyeongon — Serenity/Calm — Quiet mood
동행 | donghaeng — Companionship — Poetic
소중한 인연 | sojunghan inyeon — Precious bond — Slightly longer, very popular
5) Resilience & Growth
다시 시작 | dasi sijak — Start again — Fresh start
견디다 | gyeondida — To endure — Solid verb form
일어서다 | ireoseoda — Rise/Stand up — Energetic
성장 | seongjang — Growth — Crisp forms
전환 | jeonhwan — Turning point — Modern vibe
앞으로 | apeuro — Forward — Directional
꺾이지 않는 마음 | kkeokiji anneun maeum — Unbreakable spirit — Best medium size+
6) Mindfulness & Inner Life
지금 여기 | jigeum yeogi — Here and now — Traveler favorite
온전히 | onjeonhi — Wholly/Completely — Subtle
고요 / 靜 | goyo — Stillness — Minimalist calm
숨 | sum — Breath — Perfect micro-script
균형 | gyunhyeong — Balance — Stable shapes
마음 | ma-eum — Heart/Mind — Unique Korean concept
7) Travel & Memory
서울 | Seoul — Seoul — City mark
용산 | Yongsan — Yongsan — Location keepsake
추억 | chueok — Memory — Nice with coordinates/date
8) Short Encouragements
괜찮아 | gwaenchana — It’s okay — Comforting
천천히 | cheoncheonhi — Slowly — Mindful
행복하자 | haengbokhaja — Let’s be happy — Positive pledge
사랑하자 | saranghaja — Let’s love — Couple favorite
화이팅 | hwaiting — You got this! — Iconic Korean cheer
9) Strong Single-Character Hanja
愛 (ae) — Love — Most requested classic
勇 (yong) — Courage — Bold strokes
忍 (in) — Endure — Iconic dot (刃 over 心)
夢 (mong) — Dream — Flowing, elegant
靜 (jeong) — Stillness — Best ≥10–12 mm
Design & Placement Tips (Read Before You Choose)
Minimum readable size
Hangul/Hanja text: ≥7–8 mm height for clean linework.
Complex Hanja: ≥10–12 mm to avoid ink merging.
Line weight
Micro scripts: keep strokes ≥0.8–1.0 mm. Extremely thin lines fade faster.
Good placements
Inner wrist/forearm, below the collarbone, rib side, inner ankle.
Curvy areas need extra letter spacing.
Layout
Horizontal is common; vertical stacks look fantastic for single words or Hanja.
Typeface
Handwritten (calligraphy) for warmth, Gothic (sans) for modern, Ming/serif for classic. Avoid overly decorative fonts in tiny sizes.
Common Mistakes (and How We Prevent Them)
Spacing/orthography: One space can change tone. We proof every piece with a native speaker.
Tone: Casual vs formal matters. “나답게 (Be myself)” is casual; “본질 (Essence)” feels literary.
Variant forms: Hanja can vary by style set; we show you final outlines before stencil.
Trendy slang: Fun today, dated tomorrow. For longevity, pick timeless words or pair slang with a date.
Quick FAQ
Q1. What’s the difference between Hangul and Hanja?Hangul is the native Korean alphabet (clean, modern). Hanja are Chinese characters historically used in Korean (classic, calligraphic). Choose based on style and size.
Q2. How do you write “I love you” in Korean?사랑해 (saranghae). If you prefer a single word, 사랑 (Love) or 愛 are great.
Q3. What size should I get for a small word tattoo?Most 1–2 word scripts look best between 2–4 cm width; Hanja often needs slightly larger.
Q4. Can you check my translation and font?Yes—send us your phrase. We’ll confirm meaning/nuance and generate 3–5 font previews on the spot.
Ready to Get Yours Today?
Send us your word or phrase and a preferred placement. We’ll reply with meaning check + romanization + 10-minute quote, and confirm today’s walk-in availability.
Contact: WhatsApp · Instagram DM · “Check Walk-in Slots Today”
Helpful reads
Seoul Tattoo Cost (Mama Ink) — size/time examples & deposits
Tattoo Aftercare Guide — day-by-day healing & product tips
How to Prepare for Your First Tattoo in Korea — traveler checklist