Definition
沧海桑田 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'the blue sea turned into mulberry fields'. It is used figuratively to describe great changes in the world over time — the transformation of the natural or social landscape. You can use it to talk about how a place has changed dramatically, or to reflect on the passage of time and shifting circumstances. It is often used as a noun phrase or in a descriptive clause.
idiom
great changes in the worldthe vicissitudes of lifetime brings enormous change
Examples
- ，沧海桑田，。Jǐ shí nián guòqù le, zhèlǐ zhēn shì cāng hǎi sāng tián, cóng yí gè xiǎo yúcūn biàn chéng le dà dūshì.Decades have passed, and this place has truly undergone great changes — from a small fishing village to a big city.
- ，沧海桑田，。Dú lìshǐ shū shí, cháng ràng rén gǎndào cāng hǎi sāng tián, wángcháo xīngshuāi búguò yí shùnjiān.When reading history books, one often feels the vicissitudes of time — the rise and fall of dynasties happen in an instant.
- ：“沧海桑田，。”Lǎorén gǎntàn dào: “Rénshēng cāng hǎi sāng tián, zhuǎnyǎn wǒmen dōu lǎo le.”The old man sighed: 'Life is full of great changes; in the blink of an eye we've all grown old.'
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