Definition
曾经沧海 is a four-character idiom derived from the Tang poem 'ever having seen the ocean, it is hard to be content with a stream.' It describes someone who has experienced great things in life — intense love, major accomplishments, or profound hardships — and therefore is no longer easily impressed or shaken by ordinary events. Use it to convey world-weariness, sophistication, or emotional detachment born from experience.
idiom
having experienced great thingsworldly-wiseno longer easily impressed
Examples
- 曾经沧海，。Tā céng jīng cāng hǎi, duì zhèxiē xiǎo jiǎng gēnběn bú fàng zài xīn shang.Having seen so much of the world, he doesn't care at all about these little prizes.
- 曾经沧海，。Lǎorénjia céng jīng cāng hǎi, shénme dōu bù juéde xīqí le.The old man has been through so much that nothing seems novel to him anymore.
- 曾经沧海，。Tā céng jīng cāng hǎi, bú zài wèi xiǎo shì fánnǎo.Having experienced profound love and loss, she no longer frets over trivial matters.
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