Chinese sayings: 16 (醉翁之意不在酒)

 

醉翁之意不在酒

zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ

“drunk old-man ’s intention not in alcohol”

This is from a poem by Sòng dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu / 宋•歐陽修 (1007—1072).  

For those who might be interested, the second part, which is often left out (like in Cockney rhyming slang), is 

在乎山水之間也 / 在乎山水之间也

zài hū shān shuǐ zhī jiān yě

= (his interest is) in the mountains and the waters

    So, he’s not so much interested in the alcohol but the views that he’s drinking the alcohol to.

    I apply this to my giving people presents or helping people with chores.  It’s not so much the actual gift itself but the act of giving that is the pleasure-giving bit.  It makes people feel nice because they’re remembered (when it’s a gift), that other people are caring and supportive (when it’s help offered/rendered).

    The same when I say “thank you” to non-English speakers in their own language.  The effect is particularly remarkable, especially since I look Oriental, therefore not expected to know how to say “thank you” in, e.g., Albanian(/Kosovan), Bulgarian, Kurdish, Romanian, Turkish — just to name a few of the not-so-well-known ones (compared to French, German, Spanish, say).  

    It’s what I call a heart opener: almost invariably, they break into a big smile when they recognise the sounds coming out of this Oriental mouth.  A heart-warming ice breaker.  Makes their day.  And mine.