飘洋过海 (piāo yáng guò hǎi) — to travel across the seas; to go on a long overseas journey

Definition

A vivid chengyu-style verb meaning to travel across the ocean, often for a distant goal like studying or working abroad. Suggests a long, purposeful journey rather than casual travel.

verb
to travel across the seasto go on a long overseas journey
Easily confused

Examples

  • 飘洋过海。
    Tā nián qīng shí jué dìng piāo yáng guò hǎi qù liú xué.
    When he was young, he decided to go overseas to study.
  • ，飘洋过海。
    Wèi le shí xiàn mèng xiǎng, tā men bú pà piāo yáng guò hǎi.
    To realize their dreams, they are not afraid to travel across the seas.
  • 飘洋过海，。
    Nà sōu chuán piāo yáng guò hǎi, zhōng yú dào dá le bǐ àn.
    That ship crossed the ocean and finally reached the other shore.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

飘洋drift across the ocean
飘piāodrift洋yángocean
动宾Verb + object
过海cross the sea
过guòcross海hǎisea
动宾Verb + object

飘洋 and 过海 speak of drifting and crossing the sea, meaning a long overseas journey.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 飄; 飘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
風風fēngwind
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào飄piāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 飄 uses 票 for the sound and 風 for wind; the simplified 飘 is a shorthand.

Open 飘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
羊
羊yáng洋yáng
Same sound today

洋 pairs 氵, the water part, with 羊 to give its sound.

Open 洋 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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