It’s the scourge of young America, transcending race and socio-economic boundaries, and pervading schools, weight rooms and dance clubs everywhere: tattoos featuring Chinese characters.

As the BEIJING SPORTS SMOG’s Dan Steinberg points out, Asian-inspired ink is also prevalent among our professional sports brethren. Like, for example, NBA star Shawn Marion, who’s nickname is “The Matrix,” but whose Chinese character tatty means “Demon Bird Moth Balls.” Makes sense.

Apparently, the Chinese also have a fondness for tats, and amazingly, they prefer them in English. Let me introduce you to Chinese Olympic badmintoneer Cai Yun.

When Cai took off his jersey to celebrate the victory in the men’s doubles semifinals, the historic breakthrough for China at the Olympics, people were amazed by the beautiful tattoo on his back.

“It says Face of Adversity,” he explained to the reporters afterwards who were first confused by the English letters in curlicue. …

“It took me three hours to finish the whole piece. It really hurt a lot.” … “It is a life-long reminder and encouragement for me. I hope I can keep cool and overcome all the difficulties.”

Ah, yes, drawing inspiration from some unrecognizable symbols scribbled on a body part. Which is exactly the point made by Cai’s coach, Li Yonbo:

“It can remind the young pair always keep a strong metal frame. And they really did it today … The tattoo looks quite pretty, but if it is in Chinese characters, it will be easier for us to understand,” he joked.

Or you can just assume it says “Demon Bird Moth Balls” which is slang for “shuttlecock,” I think.