hǎiwài 海外

Outside the Four Seas / Overseas

“四海之外”，指古代中国疆域之外、国外，也指边远地区。古人认为中国疆域四周环海，各依方位称“东海”“南海”“西海”和“北海”，合称“四海”，所以称中国以外的地方为海外。其中隐含着古人以海为界的国土意识。它体现出古人以自我中心而又具开放性的空间感，及其对于境外遥远地方的向往。

Outside the Four Seas refers to the territory outside China, foreign lands, or remote areas. The ancient Chinese thought that China's territory was surrounded by the Four Seas (the East, West, North, and South seas). Therefore, places outside China were outside the Four Seas. It reflected the ancient Chinese belief that the seas were the natural boundary of a country. It also suggested that the ancient Chinese were on the one hand self-focused and on the other open-minded, longing to explore the unknown world outside the Four Seas.

引例 Citation：

◎相土烈烈，海外有截。（《诗经·商颂·长发》）

（相土威武勇猛，边远地区的人都对他一齐顺服。）

Xiangtu was so brave that he was recognized and extolled even by those outside the Four Seas. (The Book of Songs)

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