bitter wine; metaphor for painful consequences
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
bitter, low-quality wine
literaryThis is the literal meaning, referring to wine that tastes bad due to poor quality.
Zhè这
tán坛
chén陈
nián年
jiǔ酒
yǐ已
jīng经
biàn变
chéng成
le了
nán难
yǐ以
xià下
yàn咽
de的
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
This jar of aged wine has turned into an undrinkable bitter wine.
Tā他
niàng酿
de的
jiǔ酒
shī失
bài败
le了
，
cháng尝
qǐ起
lái来
xiàng像
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
The wine he brewed failed and tastes like bitter wine.
noun
painful consequence; bitter outcome
literaryA very common metaphorical usage, often implying that one's own actions have led to suffering.
Tā他
de的
tān贪
lán婪
zuì最
zhōng终
ràng让
tā他
yǐn饮
xià下
le了
zì自
niàng酿
de的
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
His greed ultimately made him drink the bitter wine he brewed himself.
Shī失
bài败
de的
hūn婚
yīn姻
shì是
tā他
bì必
xū须
yàn咽
xià下
de的
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
The failed marriage is the bitter wine he must swallow.
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Tóu投
zī资
shī失
bài败
hòu后
，
tā他
dú独
zì自
pǐn品
cháng尝
zhe着
zhè这
bēi杯
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
After the investment failed, he was left alone to taste this cup of bitter wine.
Zhèng政
cè策
de的
shī失
wù误
，
zuì最
zhōng终
yào要
yóu由
mín民
zhòng众
lái来
hē喝
zhè这
bēi杯
kǔ苦
jiǔ酒
。
The mistakes of the policy will ultimately force the people to drink this bitter wine.