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咎由自取 (jiù yóu zì qǔ) — to have only oneself to blame; to bring trouble upon oneself (used when a negative outcome is one's own fault)

Definition

A formal idiom meaning a bad outcome is entirely self-inflicted. Stronger than plain phrases like '他活该' — it emphasizes the cause lies in one's own choice, not luck or others.

idiom
to have only oneself to blameto bring trouble upon oneself (used when a negative outcome is one's own fault)

Examples

  • ，咎由自取。
    Tā yīn wèi bù shǒu xìn yòng bèi péng you shū yuǎn, wán quán shì jiù yóu zì qǔ.
    He was distanced by friends because of his untrustworthiness — it's entirely his own fault.
  • ，咎由自取。
    Rú guǒ nǐ bú rèn zhēn bèi kǎo, kǎo bú shàng dà xué jiù shì jiù yóu zì qǔ.
    If you don't study seriously for the exam, failing to get into university will be no one's fault but your own.
  • ，咎由自取。
    Tā tān tú xiǎo lì zuì hòu bèi piàn, zhēn shì jiù yóu zì qǔ.
    His greed for small gains got him scammed in the end — he has only himself to blame.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form paired 人 (person) with 夊 (foot); 口 (mouth) was later added to make 咎.

Open 咎 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

It began as a drawing of new shoots or leaves growing upward from a plant-like base.

Open 由 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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