金貂换酒 — “To trade one's valuable official's cap (golden sable cap) for wine”

金貂换酒 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to trade one's valuable official's cap (golden sable cap) for wine”. It describes someone who is unrestrained, disregards conventions, and indulges excessively in drinking. Literally, “Golden sable for wine”.

Frequency

金貂换酒 Pronunciation and Pinyin

金貂换酒 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
金	jīn	8	gold, metal, money
貂	diāo	12	marten or sable
换	huàn	10	exchange, change, replace
酒	jiǔ	10	alcoholic beverage

Example Sentence with 金貂换酒

他生性洒脱，常常金貂换酒，与朋友们尽情畅饮，不理会世俗的眼光

He is naturally free-spirited, often trading his valuable attire for wine to drink to his heart's content with friends, disregarding worldly opinions.

Origin and Story of 金貂换酒

During the Jin Dynasty, Ruan Fu, the son of Ruan Xian (one of the 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove'), was exceptionally fond of wine.

While serving as an officer, first as the Assistant to the General of the East (An Dong Can Jun) and later as Chief Clerk to the General of Chariots and Cavalry (Che Qi Jiang Jun Chang Shi), he spent his days drinking excessively and was often in a drunken stupor, completely neglecting his military duties.

Even when the emperor appointed him to a higher position, hoping to curb his drinking, Ruan Fu only indulged more, frequently getting severely drunk.

It was said that he would sometimes even pawn his valuable golden sable official's cap to exchange for more wine.