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

CEDICT

been there, done that

Wiktionary

曾经观过浩瀚无边的大海，河水便显得微不足道。语本《孟子．尽心上》：「故观于海者难为水，游于圣人之门者难为言。」比喻见识广博，经验丰富，眼界开阔，对平常事物便觉微淼不足为奇。《儿女英雄传．第三一回》：「一时便觉那香气味，有些鑽鼻刺脑。请教，一个曾经沧海的十三妹，这些个顽意儿，可有个不在行的？」

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 曾经 céngjīng
  1. once
  2. already
  3. former
  4. previously
  5. ever
  6. (past tense marker used before verb or clause)
2 沧海 cānghǎi
  1. (literary) vast ocean; large ocean
  2. vast ocean; large ocean

Containing this entry

曾经沧海难为水 céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ