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自立 (zì lì) — to be self-reliant; to stand on one's own feet

Definition

自立 means to support oneself, financially and in daily life — the practical, earned kind of independence. 独立 is broader (people, nations, thinking), while 自理 is just looking after one's own basic needs.

verb
to be self-reliantto stand on one's own feet

Examples

  • 自立，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù zì lì, cóng bú xiàng jiā lǐ yào qián.
    He has been self-reliant since childhood and never asks for money from home.
  • 自立，。
    Nǐ yīng gāi xué huì zì lì, bú yào zǒng shì yī lài bié rén.
    You should learn to be independent, don't always rely on others.
  • 自立。
    Jīng jì zì lì shì měi gè chéng nián rén yīng gāi zhuī qiú de mù biāo.
    Financial independence is a goal every adult should pursue.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

自zìself
立lìstand

自 points to oneself, and 立 means to stand; together they convey standing by oneself.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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