醉翁之意不在酒

zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ

wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol

having an ulterior motive; to have other things in mind; with an ax to grind; accomplishing something besides what one set out to do

醉

zuì

intoxicated

翁

wēng

elderly man

之

zhī

(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])

意

yì

idea

不

bù

no; not so

在

zài

to exist; to be alive

酒

jiǔ

wine (esp. rice wine)