好酒不怕巷子深

hao jiu bupa xiangzi shen
Hao means “good” while jiu refers to alcoholic drinks. Xiangzi refers to alley or hutong; shen means “deep.” This proverb, taken literally, means that good jiu is not afraid of being located at the end of a long alley.
The proverb indicates that things of true extraordinary quality will earn recognition even without any advertising.

 

醉翁之意不在酒
zuiweng zhi yi buzai jiu
Zui means “drunken,” weng refers to an old man. Yi means “intention.” This idiom originated from a story about Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072). Ouyang called himself “the old drunkard” for he often became slightly drunk after drinking with friends on the hills. Ouyang wrote that “the old drunkard delights less in drinking than being among the hills and streams, taking pleasure in them and expressing the feeling in his heart through drinking.”
This idiom indicates that one’s real intention may be hidden behind the veil of his apparent behaviors.

 

酒逢知己千杯少
jiu feng zhi ji qianbei shao
Feng means “to encounter.” Zhiji means “a bosom friend who understands me very well.” Qianbei means “a thousand cups.” This proverb, taken literally, means that a thousand cups of jiu are still not enough when drinking with close friends.
This proverb is used to express that time flies fast when talking to and drinking with close friends who have something in common.

 

当垆沽酒
dang lu gu jiu
Lu means an earthen platform where jiu jars are placed, which late also refers to a jiu shop. Gu means “to sell.” This idiom, taken literally, means selling jiu at a store.
This idiom originated from the romance of Sima Xiangru in the Han Dynasty. One of the greatest composers of Chinese fu rhapsodies, Sima was poor when returning to his home in Chengdu. Zhuo Wenjun, daughter of a wealthy merchant, fell in love with Sima at a party. She eloped with Sima and they chose a life of selling jiu and washing drinking vessels at their roadside pub.
This idiom is late quoted on occasions when someone prefers to live a poor life for the sake of love.