Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
饱经沧桑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
饱经沧桑bǎojīngcāngsānghaving lived through many changesHSK 7, i, 33 strokes, rank #84847, Very Hard
bǎojīngcāngsāng(bao3jing1cang1sang1)bao jing cang sang T3
  1. 1having lived through many changes
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

饱经沧桑(飽經滄桑)bǎojīngcāngsāng(bao3jing1cang1sang1)

The idiom 饱经沧桑 (bǎo jīng cāng sāng) describes someone who has experienced many life changes and hardships, often leading to wisdom and resilience. It is commonly used to refer to individuals who have weathered various challenges throughout their lives, reflecting the depth of their experiences.

Strokes33Frequency#84847DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the Chinese value placed on wisdom gained through experience, often associated with age and respect for elders. In Chinese culture, enduring hardships is seen as a source of strength and character.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old sea captain (沧) who has sailed through many storms (桑) and has seen countless shores (饱). Each wave represents a life challenge, and the captain's weathered face tells stories of resilience. The sound 'bǎo' can be linked to 'bowl' - picture a bowl filled with the experiences of a lifetime.

Meanings of 饱经沧桑

bǎojīngcāngsāng(bao3jing1cang1sang1)
1having lived through many changes
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 饱经沧桑 means.

About 饱经沧桑

饱经沧桑Simplified
飽經滄桑Traditional
33Strokes
—Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 饱经沧桑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 饱经沧桑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 饱经沧桑

Quick Contrast

历经沧桑 (lì jīng cāng sāng) — use 饱经沧桑 when emphasizing the accumulation of experiences leading to wisdom, while 历经沧桑 focuses more on the act of having gone through various hardships.

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing someone's life story or achievements. Be careful not to use it casually; it carries a weight of respect. Common collocations include '饱经沧桑的人' (a person who has lived through many changes) and '经历' (to experience).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 term, this idiom connects well with other expressions related to life experiences and wisdom. Students should focus on understanding its usage in storytelling and personal narratives, as well as practice using it in context to describe others or themselves.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse this idiom by applying it in light-hearted contexts, such as describing minor difficulties. For example, saying '我饱经沧桑的经历只是一次考试' (My experiences are just one exam) is incorrect; it trivializes the idiom's meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 饱经沧桑

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 饱经沧桑 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 饱经沧桑 to You

Let me explain 饱经沧桑 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 饱经沧桑 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 饱经沧桑?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 饱经沧桑 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Idiom Spotlight: 饱经沧桑

Chengyu Origin Story
Literal meaning:full experienced rough times

Component Characters

饱bǎoto eat till full
HSK 38 strokes饣
View full entry
经Jīngclassics
HSK 78 strokes纟
View full entry
沧cāngblue-green or azure (of water)
7 strokes氵
View full entry
桑Sāngmulberry tree
10 strokes木
View full entry

How to say having lived through many changes in Chinese

“having lived through many changes” in Chinese is饱经沧桑bǎojīngcāngsāng

The idiom 饱经沧桑 (bǎo jīng cāng sāng) describes someone who has experienced many life changes and hardships, often leading to wisdom and resilience. It is commonly used to refer to individuals who have weathered various challenges throughout their lives, reflecting the depth of their experiences.

When to use 饱经沧桑

This idiom is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing someone's life story or achievements. Be careful not to use it casually; it carries a weight of respect. Common collocations include '饱经沧桑的人' (a person who has lived through many changes) and '经历' (to experience).

饱经沧桑 or something close to it

历经沧桑 (lì jīng cāng sāng) — use 饱经沧桑 when emphasizing the accumulation of experiences leading to wisdom, while 历经沧桑 focuses more on the act of having gone through various hardships.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse this idiom by applying it in light-hearted contexts, such as describing minor difficulties. For example, saying '我饱经沧桑的经历只是一次考试' (My experiences are just one exam) is incorrect; it trivializes the idiom's meaning.

Write 饱经沧桑

饱
经
沧
桑

Practice writing 饱经沧桑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 饱经沧桑

饱经沧桑 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个男人有张____的脸。

The man had a worn, weathered face.

Example Sentences for 饱经沧桑 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这个男人有张饱经沧桑的脸。

zhè gè nán rén yǒu zhāng bǎo jīng cāng sāng de liǎn。

The man had a worn, weathered face.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 饱经沧桑?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 饱经沧桑

It's generally inappropriate to use 饱经沧桑 for young individuals, as the idiom implies a depth of life experiences that typically comes with age.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 饱经沧桑?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab