纸醉金迷
纸醉金迷 (zhǐ zuì jīn mí) literally means “paper drunk gold confused” and expresses “decadent luxury lifestyle”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Decadent luxury lifestyle
Pronunciation: zhǐ zuì jīn mí
Literal meaning: Paper drunk gold confused
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a decadent lifestyle where one becomes intoxicated (醉) with wealth symbolized by gold (金) and surrounded by deeds/contracts on paper (纸) to the point of confusion (迷). First appearing in Tang Dynasty poetry criticizing wealthy merchant households, it gained prominence during the Song Dynasty's commercial boom. The phrase captured the moral concerns about newly wealthy classes who lacked traditional scholarly values. The pairing of paper (representing contracts and promissory notes) with gold reflected the emerging money economy. Modern usage describes lavish, hedonistic environments from exclusive nightclubs to luxury developments, carrying subtle criticism of empty materialism that intoxicates while offering no genuine fulfillment.
Examples
English: "The young heirs lived in luxury, oblivious to the real world's hardships"
Chinese: 这些年轻的继承人生活在奢华中，对现实世界的艰辛毫无察觉
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 纸醉金迷 mean in English?
纸醉金迷 (zhǐ zuì jīn mí) literally translates to “Paper drunk gold confused” and is used to express “Decadent luxury lifestyle”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 纸醉金迷 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving decadent luxury lifestyle.
What is the pinyin for 纸醉金迷?
The pinyin pronunciation for 纸醉金迷 is “zhǐ zuì jīn mí”.