📖 Meaning
To trade a precious sable fur coat for a drink of wine. It describes a wealthy or noble person living a wanton, unrestrained, and extravagant lifestyle, valuing immediate pleasure over material possessions.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from the biography of Ruan Fu in the Book of Jin (《晋书·阮孚传》), a historical text of the Tang dynasty covering the Jin dynasty. Ruan Fu, a high-ranking official serving as Huangmen Shilang and Sanqi Changshi, was known for his free-spirited and unconventional character. He once traded his official golden marten-fur robe for wine, and was subsequently impeached by the censorial officials for this reckless act. The anecdote became a classic symbol of aristocratic dissipation and disregard for rank and wealth.
💡 Example Usage
他虽是富家子弟，却常做貂裘换酒的放荡之事。
Although he was born into a wealthy family, he often did reckless things like trading his sable coat for wine.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 貂裘换酒
- Pinyin: diāo qiú huàn jiǔ
- Literal Translation: sable fur coat, exchange, wine
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4