Dictionary › 醉翁之意不在酒

醉翁之意不在酒

zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ

7-character word

What 醉翁之意不在酒 means

1. wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol
2. having an ulterior motive
3. to have other things in mind
4. with an ax to grind
5. accomplishing something besides what one set out to do

The characters in 醉翁之意不在酒

• 醉zuìintoxicated
• 翁wēngelderly man; father; father-in-law
• 之zhī(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的; him; her
• 意yì(bound form) idea; thought; meaning; sense; (bound form) intention; feeling; inclination…
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
• 在zàito exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at…
• 酒jiǔwine (esp. rice wine); liquor; spirits