天下 (tiān xià) — the whole world; all under heaven; rule; sovereignty; political power (in historical or figurative contexts)

Definition

Examples

• 古代中国人都相信天下是皇帝统治的地方。
  Gǔ dài zhōng guó rén dōu xiāng xìn tiān xià shì huáng dì tǒng zhì de dì fāng.
  Ancient Chinese all believed that the realm under heaven was ruled by the emperor.
• 他从小就立志要打天下，最终建立了新的王朝。
  Tā cóng xiǎo jiù lì zhì yào dǎ tiān xià, zuì zhōng jiàn lì le xīn de wáng cháo.
  He resolved from childhood to fight for the realm, and eventually founded a new dynasty.
• 天下没有免费的午餐，想要成功就得努力。
  tiān xià Méi yǒu miǎn fèi de wǔ cān, xiǎng yào chéng gōng jiù dé nǔ lì.
  There's no free lunch under heaven — if you want success, you have to work hard.

Origin