Catch Phrase | 四海八荒(sìhǎi bāhuāng)

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2019-03-07

Meaning:

First mentioned in an essay by anctient Chinese intellectual Jia Yi (200-168 B.C.) in which Jia recounted his opinions on the cause of the Qin Dynasty’s collapse, this term literally means “the four seas and wilderness in eight directions.” Frequently mentioned in popular TV series “Eternal Love” (2017) starring Yang Mi and Mark Chao, this term caught on among Chinese netizens, who use it jokingly to refer to “the whole world” or “the whole universe.”

Example:

A: 学校打算组织春游,你觉得去哪儿好?

Xuéxiào dǎsuàn zǔzhī chūnyóu,nǐ juédé qù nǎr hǎo?

The school is planning a spring day tour. Where do you suggest we go?

B: 去野生动物园吧,那里有来自四海八荒的可爱动物,孩子们一定喜欢。

Qù yěshēng dòngwù yuán ba,nàlǐ yǒu láizì sìhǎi bāhuāng de kěài dòngwù,háizi men yīdìng xǐhuān。

How about the safari park? With cute animals from around the whole world, it surely appeals to kids.