1. Direct Meaning and Composition of the Kanji "串"
The kanji 串 (pronounced kushi) is a simple and evocative pictograph.
Visual Structure: It is a straightforward pictograph that depicts an object pierced through by a stick. The character looks exactly like the thing it represents.
Core Meaning: Its fundamental meaning is "skewer," as in the stick used for grilling food (kushiyaki). By extension, it means "to string together," "to link," or "a skewered bunch."
2. Common Usages and Deeper Meanings
This kanji is used in both literal and modern, technological contexts.
Primary Usage:
串焼き (kushiyaki): Grilled skewers (a very popular Japanese pub food).
串刺し (kushizashi): Impalement (a violent, but historically accurate term).
口串 (kuchigushi): A slip of the tongue, a verbal blunder. (A more obscure, but interesting usage).
Modern/Computer Usage:
In IT slang, "串" is a shorthand for "Kushi-saa" (クシサー), which is the Japanese pronunciation for "Kushang Server," a type of server software. From this, it evolved into a slang term for a proxy server. In online gaming and forums, to "use a 串" means to use a proxy to hide your real IP address, often for dubious purposes.
Deeper Metaphorical Meanings:
From these usages, we can derive several symbolic layers:
Connection and Community: A skewer brings together different pieces of food. This can symbolize bringing people together, creating connections, and forming a community from diverse individuals. It represents unity.
A Full Life Experience: Just as a skewer holds multiple items, it can symbolize a life filled with a variety of experiences, all "strung together" to form your personal story.
The Pain of Connection (Double-edged): The act of skewering involves piercing. This can symbolize the inevitable pain that sometimes comes with deep connections or the piercing truth that binds things together.
Hiding and Anonymity (Modern Context): Drawing from its IT slang, it could represent a digital persona, anonymity, or the separation between one's public and private self.
3. "串" as a Tattoo: Meanings and Cautions
As a tattoo, "串" is a highly unconventional and risky choice. Its meaning is entirely dependent on context, and without one, it is easily misinterpreted.
Potential Positive Meanings:
A Symbol of Friendship and Community: For a close-knit group of friends, it could symbolize that they are all "strung together" on the same stick—unified and inseparable.
A Love for Food and Culture: For a chef or a huge fan of Japanese cuisine, it could be a simple, direct tribute to kushiyaki and the culture of sharing food and drinks at an izakaya.
The Story of Your Life: Representing the idea that all your life experiences, both good and bad, are strung together to make you who you are.
Strong Cautions and Negative Connotations (Extremely Important!):
Vulgar and Offensive Slang (Primary Risk): This is the most critical point. In Japanese internet and youth slang, "串" (kushi) is widely used as a vulgar, derogatory term for the penis. This is by far the most immediate and common association for many modern Japanese people, especially the younger generation.
Association with Violence: The word 串刺し (kushizashi) means "impalement," a violent and painful method of execution.
Association with Deceit: The IT slang for a proxy server often carries a negative connotation, implying hacking, cheating in online games, or hiding one's identity for malicious purposes.
Extremely Casual and Unrefined: Even in its most positive context (food), it refers to a simple, common street food. It lacks the profundity, beauty, or virtue of other kanji. It can be seen as trivial, crude, or unthinking.
4. Final Verdict and Recommendation
"串" is one of the most high-risk kanji for a tattoo and is generally NOT RECOMMENDED.
The risk of severe misinterpretation is extremely high. What you may intend as a symbol of "connection" or a "love for food" will most likely be interpreted as a vulgar, crude, or even aggressive symbol.
Why you should strongly reconsider:
The Slang Meaning Dominates: The vulgar slang meaning for "penis" is overwhelmingly strong in modern usage and completely overshadows any positive or neutral meaning.
Negative Cultural Perception: A Japanese person seeing this tattoo would likely be shocked, confused, or find it laughable. It would be akin to tattooing a similarly vulgar English word on yourself.
There Are Always Better Alternatives:
For Connection/Unity, use 絆 (kizuna - bonds) or 結 (musubu - to tie/bind).
For A Sequence of Events, use 縁 (en - fateful connection) or 連続 (renzoku - sequence).
For a Love of Food, a stylized illustration of a skewer or another kanji like 食 (shoku - food) would be far safer and more artistic.
In summary:
While "串" has a legitimate meaning of "skewer," its modern connotations make it an exceptionally poor choice for a tattoo. The potential for deep offense, embarrassment, and misunderstanding is far too great. It is strongly advised to choose a different character with a clearer and more positive meaning.