Chinese symbols...vertical and horizontal

[Inkie]

Im wanting a tattoo of chinese symbols going down my spine but when i search for the symbols ive noticed some symbols run vertically and some run horizontally...if you made the horizontal symbols run vertically would they still make sense or even mean the same thing??

[kempie]

This previous thread may prove useful to you.

[heathfield]

If the characters are tattooed vertically, they'll be read vertically, there being no alternative!

[angeldraws]

Don't know the answer but be careful - there was an article once about a girl who had her b/fs name tattooed on her arm in chinese and when she was at a chinese restaurant they pointed out to her that it meant KUNG FU and not what she had thought at all!!!