zìshíqílì: 自食其力 - To Support Oneself, Be Self-Reliant

• Keywords: zishiqili, 自食其力, zì shí qí lì, earn one's own living in Chinese, support oneself in Chinese, self-reliant Chinese idiom, stand on your own two feet Chinese, Chinese proverbs about hard work, Chinese work ethic, Chengyu.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom (Chengyu) 自食其力 (zì shí qí lì) is a powerful and respected term that means “to support oneself by one's own labor” or “to stand on one's own two feet.” It embodies the cultural virtues of diligence, independence, and personal responsibility. Learning to use 自食其力 is key to understanding the Chinese work ethic and the value placed on not being a burden to one's family or society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zì shí qí lì
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (四字成语), functions as a verb phrase.
• HSK Level: Advanced (HSK 5/6 Level)
• Concise Definition: To earn one's own living and support oneself through one's own efforts.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a farmer who grows their own food. They plant the seeds (effort), tend the crops (labor), and then eat the harvest (support). 自食其力 is the principle of “eating from the fruits of your own labor.” It's a statement of dignified, honorable self-sufficiency.

• 自 (zì): self, oneself.
• 食 (shí): to eat; food.
• 其 (qí): a classical possessive pronoun meaning 'one's own'.
• 力 (lì): strength, power, effort, labor.

When combined, the literal meaning is “oneself eats one's own strength/labor.” This paints a vivid picture of someone surviving and thriving based on their own hard work, without depending on others.

自食其力 is more than just a phrase; it's a cornerstone of Chinese social values. It is deeply connected to Confucian principles of diligence (勤劳 qínláo) and personal responsibility. Being able to support oneself is seen as a fundamental mark of maturity and a source of personal and familial pride. A parent's greatest wish is often for their child to grow up and be able to 自食其力. It signifies that the child has become a capable, contributing member of society and will not be a burden. Comparison to a Western Concept: This term is similar to the American idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” but there's a key difference. “Bootstraps” often implies upward social mobility and achieving great wealth from nothing. 自食其力, on the other hand, is less about becoming rich and more about the fundamental virtue and dignity of earning an honest living, no matter how humble. It's about self-sufficiency as a moral good, not necessarily as a path to fortune. It is almost universally praised, lacking the political or social debate that sometimes surrounds the “bootstraps” analogy in the West.

自食其力 is a somewhat formal but commonly understood term. It's used in a variety of positive contexts.

• Praising Young People: Parents, teachers, and elders use it to praise a young person who has found a job and become financially independent. It's a high compliment.
• Expressing Personal Principles: An individual might use it to state their personal philosophy of not wanting to rely on others for money or support.
• Social and Economic Commentary: News articles and government reports might talk about programs designed to help people 自食其力, such as job training for the unemployed or support for rural entrepreneurs.

It carries a very positive and admirable connotation. There is no negative context for this phrase.

• Example 1:
  • 他大学毕业后，就完全自食其力了，再也没跟家里要过钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā dàxué bìyè hòu, jiù wánquán zì shí qí lì le, zài yě méi gēn jiālǐ yàoguo qián.
  • English: After graduating from college, he became completely self-reliant and never asked his family for money again.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case, describing the moment a young person achieves financial independence. It's a statement of praise.
• Example 2:
  • 我父母从小就教育我，长大后要自食其力，不能总依靠别人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fùmǔ cóngxiǎo jiù jiàoyù wǒ, zhǎng dà hòu yào zì shí qí lì, bùnéng zǒng yīkào biérén.
  • English: From a young age, my parents taught me that I must learn to support myself when I grow up and not always rely on others.
  • Analysis: This shows the term being used to express a core family value or principle being passed down through generations.
• Example 3:
  • 虽然他身体有残疾，但他坚持自食其力，开了一家小店。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā shēntǐ yǒu cánjí, dàn tā jiānchí zì shí qí lì, kāi le yī jiā xiǎo diàn.
  • English: Although he has a physical disability, he insists on supporting himself and has opened a small shop.
  • Analysis: This highlights the strong sense of dignity and determination associated with the phrase. It's used to show admirable strength of character.
• Example 4:
  • 政府的目标是帮助这些失业工人重新找到工作，让他们能够自食其力。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ de mùbiāo shì bāngzhù zhèxiē shīyè gōngrén chóngxīn zhǎodào gōngzuò, ràng tāmen nénggòu zì shí qí lì.
  • English: The government's goal is to help these unemployed workers find jobs again, enabling them to support themselves.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used in a more formal, societal context related to policy and social welfare.
• Example 5:
  • 我宁愿辛苦一点，也要自食其力，花自己挣的钱才安心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nìngyuàn xīnkǔ yīdiǎn, yě yào zì shí qí lì, huā zìjǐ zhèng de qián cái ānxīn.
  • English: I would rather work a bit harder to be self-reliant; I only feel at ease spending money that I've earned myself.
  • Analysis: This is a first-person declaration of a personal work ethic and philosophy.
• Example 6:
  • 能够自食其力是一种骄傲，也是对父母最好的回报。
  • Pinyin: Nénggòu zì shí qí lì shì yī zhǒng jiāo'ào, yě shì duì fùmǔ zuì hǎo de huíbào.
  • English: Being able to support oneself is a source of pride, and it is also the best way to repay one's parents.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the concept to filial piety (孝顺 xiàoshùn), showing how personal independence is seen as a gift to one's parents.
• Example 7:
  • 很多农村青年来到城市，希望通过自己的努力自食其力。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō nóngcūn qīngnián láidào chéngshì, xīwàng tōngguò zìjǐ de nǔlì zì shí qí lì.
  • English: Many young people from the countryside come to the city, hoping to support themselves through their own hard work.
  • Analysis: This describes the ambition and goals of migrant workers, a major social phenomenon in modern China.
• Example 8:
  • 她靠着一门手艺自食其力，把两个孩子抚养成人。
  • Pinyin: Tā kàozhe yī mén shǒuyì zì shí qí lì, bǎ liǎng ge háizi fǔyǎng chéngrén.
  • English: Relying on a craft, she supported herself and raised two children to adulthood.
  • Analysis: This shows that 自食其力 isn't just about oneself, but can also be the foundation for supporting a family.
• Example 9:
  • 在这个竞争激烈的社会，自食其力的能力至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège jìngzhēng jīliè de shèhuì, zì shí qí lì de nénglì zhì guān zhòngyào.
  • English: In this fiercely competitive society, the ability to be self-reliant is crucial.
  • Analysis: This positions the concept as a vital survival skill in the modern world.
• Example 10:
  • 老人拒绝了孩子们的资助，他说自己还能动，还能自食其力。
  • Pinyin: Lǎorén jùjuéle háizimen de zīzhù, tā shuō zìjǐ hái néng dòng, hái néng zì shí qí lì.
  • English: The old man refused his children's financial support, saying he was still able-bodied and could still earn his own living.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the deep value placed on self-reliance, even in old age, as a matter of dignity.

• Not for Single Tasks: A common mistake for learners is to use 自食其力 for a simple, single act of self-sufficiency. For example, you would not say “I cooked my own dinner tonight, so I am 自食其力.” The phrase refers to one's overall livelihood and financial independence, not completing a daily chore.
  • Incorrect: 我自己做了晚饭，我自食其力。 (Wǒ zìjǐ zuòle wǎnfàn, wǒ zì shí qí lì.)
  • Correct (for the meaning): 我自己做了晚饭。 (Wǒ zìjǐ zuòle wǎnfàn. - I made dinner myself.)
• False Friend: “Selfish”: The character 自 (zì) means “self,” which can lead beginners to mistakenly associate the phrase with selfishness. This is completely wrong. 自食其力 is a virtue representing responsibility and diligence, the opposite of the vice of selfishness.

• 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng): “Regenerate through one's own efforts.” A very close synonym, but often used in a grander context, like a company or a nation recovering through its own power.
• 独立 (dúlì): Independent. A broader and more common term. You can be emotionally independent (感情独立) or financially independent (经济独立). 自食其力 specifically refers to financial/livelihood independence through labor.
• 白手起家 (bái shǒu qǐ jiā): “To start from scratch; to build up from nothing.” This is related but focuses more on entrepreneurship and building a fortune from zero. 自食其力 is the foundation; 白手起家 is building a mansion on that foundation.
• 靠自己 (kào zìjǐ): To rely on oneself. This is the simple, colloquial way to express the core idea of 自食其力.
• 养家糊口 (yǎng jiā hú kǒu): To support one's family. This shifts the focus from personal independence to the responsibility of providing for one's family.
• 啃老族 (kěn lǎo zú): The “gnaw on the old” tribe. This is a modern slang term for the antonymic concept: adults who are still financially dependent on their parents. Understanding this term helps to understand why 自食其力 is so highly valued.
• 勤劳 (qínláo): Diligent, hardworking. The personal quality or virtue that enables a person to be 自食其力.