What does 四海为家 mean?

四海为家 (sì hǎi wéi jiā) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make one's home anywhere”.

How do you pronounce 四海为家?

四海为家 is pronounced sì hǎi wéi jiā in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 四海为家 literally mean?

Literally, 四海为家 means “to take the four seas as one's home”. It is used to mean “to make one's home anywhere”.

Where does 四海为家 come from?

四海为家 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 四海为家?

原指帝王占有全国。后指什么地方都可以当作自己的家。指志在四方，不留恋家乡或个人小天地。

四海为家 — “To make one's home anywhere”

四海为家 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make one's home anywhere”. To feel at home wherever one goes; to be a wanderer who is comfortable with no fixed abode; to be broad-minded and not attached to one's native place. Literally, “To take the four seas as one's home”.

Frequency

四海为家 Pronunciation and Pinyin

四sì
海hǎi
为wéi
家jiā

四海为家 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
四	sì	5	the number four
海	hǎi	10	sea, ocean, or vast
为	wéi	4	to be or to do
家	jiā	10	family home or expert

Example Sentence with 四海为家

他一直很喜欢旅行，去了很多地方，走到哪里都能很快适应，真正做到了四海为家

He has always loved to travel, visited many places, and can quickly adapt wherever he goes, truly making the world his home.

Origin and Story of 四海为家

After years of campaigns, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, finally unified the realm. He commanded his prime minister, Xiao He, to construct a new capital city, Chang'an.

In 200 BC, the new capital was completed, and the imperial palace was built to be magnificent and grand. When Liu Bang saw the resplendent palace, he was very displeased.

Xiao He explained, 'Your Majesty takes the four seas as your home. A solemn and majestic palace can command awe from all corners of the world.'

Idioms Related to 四海为家

Synonyms of 四海为家

Antonyms of 四海为家

ān安tǔ土zhòng重qiān迁content with one's native land and reluctant to move

More idioms starting with 四

Questions about 四海为家

What does 四海为家 mean?: 四海为家 (sì hǎi wéi jiā) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make one's home anywhere”.
How do you pronounce 四海为家?: 四海为家 is pronounced sì hǎi wéi jiā in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 四海为家 literally mean?: Literally, 四海为家 means “to take the four seas as one's home”. It is used to mean “to make one's home anywhere”.
Where does 四海为家 come from?: 四海为家 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 四海为家?: 原指帝王占有全国。后指什么地方都可以当作自己的家。指志在四方，不留恋家乡或个人小天地。

Copy the pinyin for 四海为家 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.