曾经沧海难为水

曾經滄海難為水

céng jīng cānghǎi nán wéi shuǐ

quotation

Meanings

1 once you have seen the vast ocean, no other water seems worthy of the name
2 one who has known the greatest cannot settle for less
3 nothing compares to what one has already had

Characters

once / previously

to pass through

dark blue (of water)

hard / difficult

to count as / be

Examples

HSK 4

旅行过那么多地方，再看这里的风景，真是曾经沧海难为水。

Lǚxíng guò nàme duō dìfāng, zài kàn zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng, zhēnshì céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ.

After traveling to so many places, these views no longer impress me - once you have seen the ocean, other waters seem ordinary.

HSK 7-9

他说起前任时叹了口气：曾经沧海难为水。

Tā shuōqǐ qiánrèn shí tàn le kǒuqì: céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ.

When he spoke of his ex he sighed: once you have seen the ocean, no other water will do.

Tips

history

From Yuan Zhen's (元稹, Tang dynasty) 离思五首·其四, written mourning his late wife Wei Cong: 曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云。取次花丛懒回顾，半缘修道半缘君 - 'Once you have seen the ocean, no other water counts; apart from the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds are clouds.' One of the most quoted laments in Chinese literature.

usage

Usually paired with its twin line 除却巫山不是云. Together they stand as shorthand for mourning a lost great love, or for refusing to settle after having known the best.

Stroke Order

曾 céng

经 jīng

沧 cāng

海 hǎi

难 nán

为 wéi

水 shuǐ