安身立命 (ān shēn lì mìng) — to settle down and pursue one's life's work; to find one's place in life and career

Definition

A chengyu meaning to find a stable place in life and a purpose worth pursuing — settling down materially (安身) and spiritually (立命). It implies both livelihood and meaning, not just a job.

idiom
to settle down and pursue one's life's workto find one's place in life and career

Examples

  • ，安身立命。
    Hěn duō rén dào dà chéng shì dǎ gōng, xī wàng néng ān shēn lì mìng.
    Many people go to big cities to work, hoping to settle down and build a life.
  • ，安身立命。
    Duì tā lái shuō, ān shēn lì mìng shì rén shēng de jī chǔ.
    For him, settling down and finding his life's work is the foundation of life.
  • 安身立命。
    Zhè běn shū jiǎng shù le yí gè gǔ rén ān shēn lì mìng de gù shi.
    This book tells the story of an ancient person who settled and established his life's mission.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

安身settle one's body
安ānsettle身shēnbody
动宾Verb + object
立命establish one's fate
立lìestablish命mìngfate
动宾Verb + object

“安身” and “立命” mean settling one's body and establishing one's fate, together expressing finding one's place in life.

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 →

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

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

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

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

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