安分守己 (ān fèn shǒu jǐ) — (idiom) to be content with one's lot, to know one's place, and to behave properly

Definition

A chengyu meaning to stay in one's place, keep quiet, and not cause trouble — a strong, often moralizing tone about quiet, obedient behavior.

idiom
to be content with one's lotto know one's placeand to behave properly

Examples

  • 安分守己,。
    Tā yì zhí shì gè ān fèn shǒu jǐ de rén, cóng bù rě shì.
    He has always been a law-abiding person who never stirs up trouble.
  • 安分守己,。
    Fù mǔ cháng jiào yù zǐ nǚ yào ān fèn shǒu jǐ, bú yào gēn bié rén pān bǐ.
    Parents often teach their children to be content with their lot and not to compare with others.
  • 安分守己,。
    Tā ān fèn shǒu jǐ dì guò rì zi, suī rán bú fù yù dàn shì hěn tā shi.
    He lives a peaceful life, staying in his lane; although not rich, he feels very secure.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

安分content with one's lot
安āncontent分fēnlot
动宾Verb + object
守己keep to oneself
动宾Verb + object

安分 means content with one's lot, and 守己 means keeping to oneself; together they describe behaving properly.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

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

The 己 shape is a picture of a silk rope used to bind objects.

Open 己 →

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