沧海一粟 — “An extremely small or insignificant part of something vast”
沧海一粟 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “an extremely small or insignificant part of something vast”. A drop in the ocean; a tiny speck in a huge expanse. Literally, “A grain of millet in the vast ocean”.
Frequency
沧海一粟 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 沧cāng
- 海hǎi
- 一yī
- 粟sù
沧海一粟 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 沧海一粟
与浩瀚的宇宙相比，我们每个人都不过是沧海一粟。
Compared to the vast universe, each of us is merely a drop in the ocean.
Origin and Story of 沧海一粟
The Northern Song Dynasty scholar Su Dongpo was demoted to Huangzhou for opposing Wang Anshi's reforms. While in Huangzhou, he wrote two 'Odes to the Red Cliff,' reflecting on the impermanence of worldly affairs.
He observed that the mighty Cao Cao, who suffered a significant defeat at Red Cliff, was but a grain of millet in the immense sea of history—insignificant.
Su Dongpo believed that despite our smallness, everyone should strive to make vigorous efforts during their lifetime, so as not to live in vain.
Idioms Related to 沧海一粟
Synonyms of 沧海一粟
Antonyms of 沧海一粟
Questions about 沧海一粟
- What does 沧海一粟 mean?
- 沧海一粟 (cāng hǎi yī sù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “an extremely small or insignificant part of something vast”.
- How do you pronounce 沧海一粟?
- 沧海一粟 is pronounced cāng hǎi yī sù in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 沧海一粟 literally mean?
- Literally, 沧海一粟 means “a grain of millet in the vast ocean”. It is used to mean “an extremely small or insignificant part of something vast”.
- Where does 沧海一粟 come from?
- 沧海一粟 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 沧海一粟?
- 粟：谷子，即小米。大海里的一粒谷子。比喻非常渺小。