I'm center-left, with fellow dancer Gary Liu during one of our "meatscapades."

The Chinese language is incredibly profound. Among its features are countless idioms called chengyu. These phrases, usually four-character long, often reference a historical event or story and convey a depth of meaning formed over 5,000 years of civilization. 

On our recent Argentina tour I was struck by the amazing meat culture. So inspired was I, that I compiled 24 chengyu phrases to articulate my experience. I have included a rough English translation and the Chinese pinyin pronunciation so more people can experience what I have.

久聞大名 (jiǔ wén dà míng)

Your reputation precedes you

如雷貫耳 (rú léi guàn ěr) 

Your voice fills my ears

今幸品之 (jīn xìng pǐn zhī)

It is my luck today to taste thee

三生有幸 (sān shēng yǒu xìng)

The luck of three lifetimes

如飢似渴 (rú jī sì kě)

I feel like I am starving and passionately thirsting

望眼欲穿 (wàng yǎn yù chuān)

As I eagerly await thee

十里飄香 (shí lǐ piāo xiāng)

Your aroma wafts for miles

翘首以待 (qiáo shǒu yǐ dài)

I raise my eyes, longing, waiting

垂涎三尺 (chuí xián sān chǐ)

Drool droops three feet

芳香四溢 (fāng xiāng sì yì)

I drown in your fragrant balm

色味俱佳 (sè wèi jù jiā)

Pleasant to both the eye and the palate

入口即化 (rù kǒu jí huà)

You melt in my mouth

油而不腻 (yóu ér bù nì)

Succulant yet not greasy

肉汁四溢 (ròu zhī sì yì)

Overflowing with juice

鹹甜適中 (xián tián shì zhōng)

Flavour perfectly balanced

五味俱全 (wǔ wèi jù quán)

Containing all tastes known to man

狼吞虎咽 (láng tūn hǔ yàn)

Devoured as if by beasts

風卷殘雲 (fēng juǎn cán yún)

Gone with a clean sweep of the wind

杯盤狼籍 (bēi pán láng jí)

The cup and plate as if attacked by a wolf

勢不可擋 (shì bù kě dǎng)

With unstoppable force

添嘴抹唇 (tiān zuǐ mǒ chún)

Your reminances upon my visage

意猶未盡 (yì yóu wèi jìn)

Yet I still feel incomplete

回味無窮 (huí wèi wú qióng)

I instantly long for your taste

流連忘返 (liú lián wàng fǎn)

Enjoyed so much I forget about home

03 de janeiro de 2013