历经沧桑
lì jīng cāng sāng
to have been through many changes and hardships
Character by character
历lì
undergo
undergo
经jīng
experience
experience
沧cāng
blue-sea
blue-sea
桑sāng
mulberry
mulberry
Example
这座老桥历经沧桑，至今还在使用。
This old bridge has seen a great deal over the centuries and is still in use today.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
沧桑 is short for 沧海桑田 (lesson 4-1), seas turning into mulberry fields: great change over time. It suits buildings, cities and people with a long, eventful past; 饱经沧桑 (lesson 6-16) stresses the hardship suffered.
Learn this in Lesson 236 · HSK 9+: 敦煌 (Dunhuang: the Mogao Caves)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →