沧海桑田
沧海桑田 (cāng hǎi sāng tián) literally means “blue sea mulberry field” and expresses “profound transformations over time”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: cang hai sang tian, cang hai sang tian,沧海桑田 meaning, 沧海桑田 in english
Profound transformations over time
Pronunciation: cāng hǎi sāng tián Literal meaning: Blue sea mulberry field
Origin & Usage
Ancient Daoist texts first recorded this observation of how blue seas (沧海) become mulberry fields (桑田) over time. The 'Liezi' collection used it to illustrate the profound transformations possible over centuries. Han Dynasty writers transformed it into a metaphor for any fundamental change requiring vast spans of time. The image gains particular power from the complete opposition of the environments - from deepest ocean to cultivated field.
When to Use
Situation: The once-thriving industrial city had transformed into an abandoned ghost town
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 沧海桑田 mean in English?
沧海桑田 (cāng hǎi sāng tián) literally translates to “Blue sea mulberry field” and is used to express “Profound transformations over time”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 沧海桑田 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving profound transformations over time.
What is the pinyin for 沧海桑田?
The pinyin pronunciation for 沧海桑田 is “cāng hǎi sāng tián”.