Is 小鲜肉 (xiǎo xiān ròu) edible?

"鲜肉" (xiān ròu) means "fresh meat". 

"鲜肉（xiān ròu）"新鲜的肉！

Then, 小 (xiǎo) +鲜肉 (xiān ròu) = a small piece of fresh meat

小（xiǎo ）+鲜肉（xiān ròu） =小块的新鲜的肉？

Looking at the picture of  "肉", you will surely think that "小鲜肉" is edible. Go ahead! Take it to the kitchen! Fry or boil it and bring it to me!

肉（ròu）的画面一有，想必"小鲜肉"定是能吃了！还等什么？抄家伙！把肉给煎、炸、煮、炒了再来见我！

I have heard long before that many delicious dishes can be made with "鲜肉" in the Chinese ways of cooking, like "糖醋肉 (tánɡ cù ròu, sweet-sour pork)", "红烧肉 (hónɡ shāo ròu, stewed pork with brown sauce)", "粉蒸肉 (fěn zhēnɡ ròu, steamed pork with rice flour)" …

我可是早有耳闻，以鲜肉（xiān ròu）为食材，利用中式烹饪方法，可以调制出许多人间美味。"糖醋肉"、"红烧肉"、"粉蒸肉"…

sweet-sour pork

stewed pork with brown sauce

steamed pork with rice flour

Every time I think of these delicacies, my eyes will shine and my mouth begins watering.

Please stop abusing my little heart. It has been tortured by various temptations. 

Come on give me the real!

每每想到这些美味，我都眼冒桃心，口水直流…

别再虐一颗已被馋虫侵蚀的小心脏啦！

快来点纯干货！

However, the truth is that "小鲜肉" (xiǎo xiān ròu) is to please your eyes rather than your mouth. 

今日干货就是告诉你："小鲜肉（xiǎo xiān ròu）"只可远观，不可进食也。

In China, "小鲜肉" is a well-known hot word. It is used to describe a male entertainer and refers especially to the young, handsome and new-generation male idol at the age of 12-30. They are simple, kind and free of too much affective experience or negative news. "小" means "young and lively" here, "鲜" means "with little affective experience and free of gossip news", and "肉" refers to "the strong muscle and the well-built body". For example,

"小鲜肉（xiǎo xiān ròu）"是家喻户晓的中文热词。它用于形容男艺人。特指年轻、帅气的新生代男偶像。一般是年龄在12-30岁之间的性格纯良，没有太多的情感经验与负面新闻，并且长相俊俏的男生。"小（xiǎo）"在这个热词中是用来形容"年轻有活力"；"鲜（xiān）" 对应的是情感经历少，没有花边新闻；"肉（ròu）"则是特指健硕的肌肉，健美的身材。举个例子，请看下图：

Are you fascinated by the "鲜劲儿" (freshness) of the role player of Stiles in Teen Wolf, Dylon O'Brien? Then don't save your compliment, "Look! Dylon is so cute, 小鲜肉 indeed!"

被《少狼》 (Teen Wolf) 斯蒂尔斯（Stiles）的扮演者迪伦•奥布莱恩（Dylan O'Brien）的"鲜劲儿"森森吸引？那就豪不吝啬地称赞他："瞧！迪伦•奥布莱恩真帅，他就是小鲜肉！"

He is only 25 and free of negative news. His presence in Teen Wolf has proved his well-built and graceful body adequately. "小鲜肉" is really customized for him. 

他只25岁，他没有不良新闻，他在《少狼》中的表现足以证明他的健美身材。"小鲜肉"加身，名副其实嘛。

Now, you understand that "小鲜肉" refers to a person rather than food. Are you overcome with disappointment or joy?

明白了"小鲜肉"不是食物而是指人物的你，是失望呢？还是喜出望外呢？

At least, I believe that the charisma of Chinese language will never let you down.  

我相信，至少，中文的魅力不会令你失望！

The article is translated and editted by Chinlingo. Please indicate the source (info.chinlingo.com) for any use, reproduction or transfer. 

本文由Chinlingo编译后发布，如需转载，请标明来源：info.chinlingo.com.