四海

sìhǎi
noun #22,439

Meanings

  1. 1 the four seas
  2. 2 all under heaven
  3. 3 the whole world
  4. 4 everywhere

Examples

Sì hǎi zhī nèi jiē xiōngdì.
Within the four seas, all men are brothers.
Tā sìhǎi wéi jiā, zǒubiàn tiānxià.
He regards the whole world as his home and has traveled everywhere.

Tips

culture
In classical Chinese cosmology, China was seen as surrounded by four seas — representing the entire known world. 四海 thus became a poetic way to say 'everywhere' or 'all people.' The phrase 四海之内兄弟 comes from the Analects of Confucius.

Stroke Order

hǎi