桃李满天下

桃李滿天下

táolǐmǎntiānxià

idiom

Meanings

1 one's peaches and plums fill the world
2 to have students / disciples everywhere (said of a great teacher)

Characters

sky / under heaven

Examples

HSK 4

这位老教授桃李满天下。

Zhèwèi lǎo jiàoshòu táolǐmǎntiānxià.

This old professor has students all over the world.

HSK 7-9

师从他三十年，同门桃李满天下。

Shīcóng tā sānshí nián, tóngmén táolǐmǎntiānxià.

His school of students, built up over thirty years, now spans the world.

Tips

history

From 《资治通鉴·唐纪》: Empress Wu Zetian told Di Renjie 天下桃李，悉在公门矣, 'the world's peaches and plums are all at your gate', praising his recruitment of talent.

culture

桃李 = peach and plum trees, the classical metaphor for students/disciples (compare with 桃李无言，下自成蹊).

Stroke Order

桃 táo

李 lǐ

满 mǎn

天 tiān

下 xià