四海之內皆兄弟

Chinese

		the four seas; the world; the whole world the four seas; the world; the whole world; generous; magnanimous	's; him/her/it; this	inside; inner; internal inside; inner; internal; within; interior	all; each and every; in all cases	brother; brethren; brothers and sisters brother; brethren; brothers and sisters; siblings
trad. (四海之內皆兄弟)		四海	之	內	皆	兄弟
simp. (四海之内皆兄弟)		四海	之	内	皆	兄弟

Etymology

From the Analects, Book 12 (《論語·顏淵》):

子夏曰：「商聞之矣：『死生有命，富貴在天』。君子敬而無失，與人恭而有禮，四海之內，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎無兄弟也！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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子夏曰：「商闻之矣：『死生有命，富贵在天』。君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎无兄弟也！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐxià yuē: “Shāng wén zhī yǐ: ‘Sǐshēng yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān’. Jūnzǐ jìng ér wú shī, yǔ rén gōng ér yǒulǐ, sìhǎi zhī nèi, jiē xiōngdì yě, jūnzǐ hé huàn hū wú xiōngdì yě!” [Pinyin]

Zixia said to him, "There is the following saying which I have heard - 'Death and life have their determined appointment; riches and honors depend upon Heaven.' Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety - then all within the four seas will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?"

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): sìhǎi zhī nèi jiē xiōngdì

  (Zhuyin): ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄓ ㄋㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): sei³ hoi² zi¹ noi⁶ gaai¹ hing¹ dai⁶

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: sìhǎi zhī nèi jiē xiōngdì
    • Zhuyin: ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄓ ㄋㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: sìhhǎi jhih nèi jie syongdì
    • Wade–Giles: ssŭ⁴-hai³ chih¹ nei⁴ chieh¹ hsiung¹-ti⁴
    • Yale: sz̀-hǎi jr̄ nèi jyē syūng-dì
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: syhhae jy ney jie shiongdih
    • Palladius: сыхай чжи нэй цзе сюнди (syxaj čži nɛj cze sjundi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ neɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: sei³ hoi² zi¹ noi⁶ gaai¹ hing¹ dai⁶
    • Yale: sei hói jī noih gāai hīng daih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: sei³ hoi² dzi¹ noi⁶ gaai¹ hing¹ dai⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: séi³ hoi² ji¹ noi⁶ gai¹ hing¹ dei⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ nɔːi̯²² kaːi̯⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²²/

Proverb

四海之內皆兄弟

1. all men are brothers

   • 魯達道：「員外錯愛酒家，如何報答？」趙員外便道：「『四海之內皆兄弟也。』如何言報答之事？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     鲁达道：「员外错爱酒家，如何报答？」赵员外便道：「『四海之内皆兄弟也。』如何言报答之事？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14^th century CE

     Lǔ Dá dào: “Yuánwài cuò'ài jiǔjiā, rúhé bàodá?” Zhào yuánwài biàn dào: “‘sìhǎizhīnèijiēxiōngdì yě.’ Rúhé yán bàodá zhī shì?” [Pinyin]

     Lu Da said: "Squire, you've been treating this drunkard so well. How can I repay you?" Squire Zhao answered: "Within the four seas, all men are brothers. Why mention repayment?"