Yojijukugo
Japanese meaning of 酒池肉林
Voice sample:
しゅちにくりん (shuchi nikurin)
English Translation:
Lavish feast, debauchery
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Literally “a lake of wine, a forest of meat”; a wildly luxurious feast.
日本語で読む
酒や肉がたっぷりある、ぜいたくきわまりない宴会。
Cultural Context:
It comes from the story of King Zhou of the Shang dynasty in the Chinese history book Shiji. Today it is often used jokingly about a big feast.
日本語で読む
中国の歴史書『史記』にある、殷の紂王のぜいたくな宴の話から。今では、豪華な食事会を冗談めかして言うことが多い。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun; often “酒池肉林の宴” or “まるで酒池肉林だ.”
日本語で読む
•「酒池肉林の宴」「まるで酒池肉林だ」のように使う。
Trap for English Speakers
In the original story it is about extreme luxury; in modern Japanese some people use it with a sexual meaning, which is a misunderstanding.
日本語で読む
本来はぜいたくな宴の意味。みだらな意味で使うのは本来の意味とは違う。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
焼き肉食べ放題に行った兄は、「酒池肉林だった」と満足そうだった。
After the all-you-can-eat barbecue, my brother said happily that it had been a lavish feast.
Example 2Applied Example
城主が酒池肉林の宴に酔うあいだに、忍びは宝物蔵へ忍びこんだ。
While the lord was drunk at his lavish feast, the ninja slipped into the treasure house.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「酒池肉林」 mean?