📖 Meaning
Chén miǎn means to be deeply addicted or immersed. The idiom describes someone who is utterly absorbed in wine and comfort, overindulging in fine alcohol and women and living a life of dissolute debauchery. It is used as a strong criticism of self-indulgent, pleasure-seeking behavior that leads to one's downfall.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from the Song dynasty poet Yang Wanli's epitaph for the late Longtu Pavilion Scholar Zhang. In it, Yang Wanli lists rulers of antiquity who were destroyed by their weakness for wine: Taikang fell because of his love of sweet wine, the tyrant Jie fell because of his wine pool, King Li fell because of his reckless drinking, and King You fell because of his indulgence in wine and debauchery. The passage was written as a moral warning that yielding to drink and sensual pleasure has ruined even the most powerful kings. King You of Zhou is traditionally remembered for his infatuation with his consort Bao Si, which led to the fall of the Western Zhou.
💡 Example Usage
他沉湎淫逸，终于一事无成。
He gave himself over to wine and debauchery, and in the end accomplished nothing at all.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 沉湎淫逸
- Pinyin: chén miǎn yín yì
- Literal Translation: indulge, be addicted, licentious, idle
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4