諺語 · a single proverb
酒後吐真言
Simplified: 酒后吐真言
What does 酒後吐真言 (jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēnyán) mean?
酒後吐真言 (jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēnyán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "After wine, one speaks the truth." In use it means: Alcohol loosens inhibitions, causing people to say what they truly think or feel. What someone says while drinking often reveals their genuine thoughts. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "After wine, one speaks the truth.."
The reading
The sober mouth is a diplomat, but the drunk mouth is a witness. Wine does not put words into people; it removes the hand that was covering them. This is why drinking together has always been a test of character, not just a pastime. What spills out when the guard drops was always there, just held behind a locked door. The wine did not create the truth; it only turned the key.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese proverb, paralleled in many world cultures; attested in classical Chinese texts
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 酒後吐真言 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 酒後吐真言 (jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēnyán) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese proverb, paralleled in many world cultures; attested in classical Chinese texts. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 酒後吐真言?
In Mandarin it is jiǔ hòu tǔ zhēnyán. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 酒後吐真言 aloud in Mandarin.