Meaning
This is a literary chengyu meaning one's reputation has spread to all corners of the world. The '四海' (four seas) is an ancient Chinese concept representing the entire world, bounded by seas in all four directions. The phrase emphasizes widespread fame and recognition beyond local or national boundaries.
Usage
This is a formal, literary expression used in written Chinese, news reports, or formal speech to describe someone or something that has achieved international fame. It carries a positive connotation and is often used to praise achievements in arts, culture, sports, or business. More common in written than spoken contexts.
Examples
- 01莫言凭借其独特的文学风格名扬四海，成为首位获得诺贝尔文学奖的中国作家。, .Mo Yan became world-renowned for his unique literary style, becoming the first Chinese writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- 02中国的长城作为古代建筑奇迹早已名扬四海。.China's Great Wall has long been famous throughout the world as an ancient architectural wonder.
Characters
Antonyms
Origin
The phrase combines '名扬' (fame spreading) with '四海' (four seas), an ancient Chinese cosmological concept where China was viewed as the central land surrounded by four seas representing the edges of the known world.