天下 (tiān xià) — the whole world; all under heaven; rule; sovereignty; political power (in historical or figurative contexts)
Definition
天下 is a literary/classical 'all under heaven' — the whole world or the realm a ruler governs. Use 全球 for modern 'worldwide'; 天地 for the physical heaven-and-earth or one's scope of action.
noun
the whole worldall under heavenrulesovereigntypolitical power (in historical or figurative contexts)
Examples
- 天下。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.
- ，。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，。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.
Appears in
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