Chinese word

自食其力

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì shí qí lì

Meaning

  • idiomsupport oneself

Example

她想早点自食其力。tā xiǎng záo diǎn zì shí qí lì

She wants to support herself soon.

Illustration for 自食其力 (support oneself)

More examples

年轻人应该努力自食其力，不要总靠父母。nián qīng rén yīng gāi nǔ lì zì shí qí lì bú yào zǒng kào fù mǔ

Young people should work hard to support themselves and not always rely on their parents.

Core concept

A life sustained by one's own work and abilities instead of another person's support.

Common phrases

  • 努力自食其力nǔ lì zì shí qí lì

    work hard to support oneself

  • 学会自食其力xué huì zì shí qí lì

    learn to support oneself

Similar words

自谋生计zì móu shēng jì: Find work or another personal means of earning a living.
自给自足zì jǐ zì zú: Provide all the necessities of life from one's own resources without outside help.

Definition in Chinese

不依靠他人，靠自己的劳动或能力维持生活。bù yī kào tā rén kào zì jǐ de láo dòng huò néng lì wéi chí shēng huó

Word origin

自食其力 (zìshíqílì, "eat by one's own strength") uses eating as an image for obtaining a livelihood and strength as the means, linking the phrase to work-based independence.

Usage tips

  • Its four-character form gives it a formal, compact tone, so it fits careful speech and writing better than relaxed everyday chat.

Other meanings

  • be independentidiom
  • make one's own livingidiom

Opposites

  • 寄人篱下jì rén lí xiàdepend on others for a livingidiom

Word lists with this word