曾經滄海難為水

Chinese
 
(refers to something that happened previously); already; at some time in the past; before; once; great-grand (father)
 
classics; sacred book; pass through; to undergo; scripture
 vast ocean; large ocean
 
disaster; distress; to scold; difficult (to...); problem; difficulty; difficult; not good
 
because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become
 water; river
trad. (曾經滄海難為水) 曾 經 滄海 難 為 水
simp. (曾经沧海难为水) 曾 经 沧海 难 为 水

Etymology
孟子曰：孔子登東山而小魯，登泰山而小天下。故觀於海者難為水。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
孟子曰：孔子登东山而小鲁，登泰山而小天下。故观于海者难为水。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, circa 4th century BCE
Mèngzǐ yuē: Kǒngzǐ dēng Dōngshān ér xiǎo Lǔ, dēng Tàishān ér xiǎo tiānxià. Gù guān yú hǎi zhě nán wèi shuǐ. [Pinyin]
Mencius said, "Having climbed the East Peak (of Mount Tai), Lu seemed small to Confucius. Having climbed to the top of Mount Tai, the whole world below seemed small. Those who have seen the ocean will have difficulty taking rivers seriously.
曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲。取次花叢懶回顧，半緣修道半緣君。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云。取次花丛懒回顾，半缘修道半缘君。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 779 - 831: Yuan Zhen, Missing you (part four of five) (離思五首（其四）) (Wiktionary translation)
Céng jīng cānghǎi nán wèi shuǐ, chúquè Wūshān bùshì yún. Qǔcì huācóng lǎn huígù, bàn yuán xiūdào bàn yuán jūn. [Pinyin]
Having crossed the vast oceans, I can no longer take a river seriously. If it's not on Mount Wushan, it's not a cloud. I don't care to look back on my leisurely walks among the flowers and shrubs, half due to religious devotion, and half due to you[1].

Pronunciation

Idiom

曾經滄海難為水

  1. been there, done that

References
  1. Legend has it that Yuan Zhen wrote these five poems after his wife passed away
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