河清海晏

héqīng-hǎiyàn
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 the Yellow River runs clear and the sea is calm
  2. 2 peace and prosperity throughout the land

Examples

HSK 7-9
Nà shì yí ge héqīng-hǎiyàn de niándài, bǎixìng ānjū-lèyè.
It was an age of peace and prosperity, when ordinary people lived and worked in contentment.
HSK 7-9
Tā zài xīnnián zhìcí zhōng zhùyuàn zǔguó héqīng-hǎiyàn, guótài-mín'ān.
In his New Year address he wished the country peace and prosperity.

Tips

history
The Yellow River is famously muddy, so its running clear was taken as an omen of a wise ruler and an age of peace. Tang writers already paired it with good harvests: 河清海晏,时和岁丰. Today it belongs to formal wishes and speeches, often next to 天下太平.

Stroke Order

河 hé
清 qīng
海 hǎi
晏 Yàn