Learn HSK courses HSK 2.0 Current standard HSK 3.0 Coming soon Practice Flashcards & reading Flashcards SRS practice Reading Practice with texts HSK Decks Browse & enroll decks My Decks Manage custom decks Reference Dictionary & hanzi Dictionary Search everything Hanzi Characters & strokes Play Games All Games Pick a game Hanzi Hunter Pinyin typing shooter Tone Trials Train your ear Memory March New or seen before? High Scores Your best runs Progress Stats & rankings Stats Your learning dashboard Achievements Badges & milestones Leaderboards How you rank Reviews What learners say
LearnChinese.ai - Learn Mandarin Chinese Online LearnChinese.ai - Learn Mandarin Chinese Online
LearnChinese.ai - Learn Mandarin Chinese Online LearnChinese.ai - Learn Mandarin Chinese Online
Learn
HSK 2.0 Current standard HSK 3.0 Coming soon
Practice
Flashcards SRS practice Reading Practice with texts HSK Decks Browse & enroll decks My Decks Manage custom decks
Reference
Dictionary Search everything Hanzi Characters & strokes
Play
All Games Pick a game Hanzi Hunter Pinyin typing shooter Tone Trials Train your ear Memory March New or seen before? High Scores Your best runs
Progress
Stats Your learning dashboard Achievements Badges & milestones Leaderboards How you rank Reviews What learners say
Login Sign Up
Back to Dictionary
曾经沧海
曾經滄海
céngjīngcānghǎi
1. lit. having crossed the vast ocean (idiom)
2. fig. widely experienced in the vicissitudes of life

Character Breakdown

曾
céng
already, formerly, once; the past
HSK 5 12 丶
经
jīng
the classics; to experience, to undergo
HSK 2 8 丶
沧
cāng
azure, cold, vast (all as of the sea)
HSK 6 7 丶
海
hǎi
sea, ocean; maritime
HSK 4 10 丶

Compound Words (1)

曾经沧海难为水,除却巫山不是云
céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ,chúquèWūShānbùshìyún
there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom)

Metadata

Category
Chinese

LearnChinese.ai

Master Mandarin

Site

About Custom Decks Accounts & Social Contact

Editorial

Learning Resources Blog HSK 2.0 vs 3.0

Legal

Privacy Policy Terms of Service

Plans

Plans

© 2026 LearnChinese.ai. All rights reserved.