引例 Citations:

◎今欲并天下,凌万乘,诎敌国,制海内,子元元,臣诸侯,非兵不可。(《战国策·秦策一》)

(如果想吞并天下,凌驾大国之上,使敌国屈服,控制海内,统治百姓,臣服诸侯,就非用武力不可。)

If our country wants to conquer all under heaven, rise above the big powers, subdue enemy states, control the territory within the Four Seas, govern the subjects and rule over the feudal lords, military force is indispensable. (Strategies of the Warring States)

◎海内存知己,天涯若比邻。(王勃《杜少府之任蜀州》)

(四海之内都会有知己,纵使远隔天涯海角也如近邻一样。)

If you have a bosom friend within the Four Seas, even at world’s end he remains close to you. (Wang Bo: Seeing Off a Friend Who Has Been Appointed to a County Post in Shuzhou)

海外

/hǎiwài/

Outside the Four Seas / Overseas

“四海之外”,指古代中国疆域之外、国外,也指边远地区。古人认为中国疆域四周环海,各依方位称“东海”“南海”“西海”和“北海”,合称“四海”,所以称中国以外的地方为海外。其中隐含着古人以海为界的国土意识。它体现出古人以自我为中心而又具开放性的空间感,及其对于境外遥远地方的向往。

Outside the Four Seas refers to the territory outside China, foreign lands, or remote areas. The ancient Chinese thought that China’s territory was surrounded by the Four Seas (the East, West, North, and South seas). Therefore, places outside China were outside the Four Seas. It reflected the ancient Chinese belief that the seas were the natural boundary of a country. It also suggested that the ancient Chinese were on the one hand self-focused, and on the other, open-minded, longing to explore the unknown world outside the Four Seas.

引例 Citations: