醉翁之意不在酒
What does 醉翁之意不在酒 mean?
One's real intention is elsewhere; what you say you love is only the frame for what you truly love
表面上说喜欢的是一件事，其实真正的用意或兴趣在别的地方。
Historical origin
In the Song dynasty, the writer and official Ouyang Xiu was sent away from the capital to Chuzhou after the reform he supported failed. There, the monk Zhi Xian pointed out a scenic spot on Langya Mountain, where Ouyang Xiu built the Old Drunkard's Pavilion and wrote an essay about it. In the essay, he said the joy of the drunk old man was not really in the wine, but in the mountain, the spring, the changing seasons, and the people of Chuzhou.
How do you use 醉翁之意不在酒 in a sentence?
Dad says he only comes to my soccer games for the snacks. But the whole time, he is the loudest voice cheering for me. That is 醉翁之意不在酒.
爸爸说他来看我的足球比赛是为了吃零食，但他真正开心的是为我加油——醉翁之意不在酒。
Common mistake
Do not use this idiom just because someone likes two things at the same time. It is only correct when the thing mentioned on the surface is not the real focus, and the true intention is somewhere else.
不要因为一个人同时喜欢两样东西就用这个成语。只有当表面上说的是一件事、真正关注的却是另一件事时，这个成语才用得对。
More examples and usage guide