自给 (zì jǐ) — to be self-sufficient (especially in food or resources)

Definition

A formal/written verb meaning 'to be self-sufficient' in essential resources like food or energy. Almost always appears in the set phrase 自给自足 or formal contexts such as government or economic writing.

verb
to be self-sufficient (especially in food or resources)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 自给。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de liáng shi kě yǐ zì jǐ.
    This country's grain can be self-sufficient.
  • 。
    Tā men nǔ lì shí xiàn zì jǐ zì zú.
    They strive to achieve self-sufficiency.
  • 自给。
    Nà ge dì qū yǐ jīng zì jǐ le.
    That region has become self-sufficient.

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zìoneself
给gěisupply

自 (oneself) and 给 (supply) describe supplying oneself, hence being self-sufficient.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 給; 给 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
合
合hé給gěi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 給 uses 糸 (silk) for meaning and 合 for sound, and its old sense was rich, abundant, perhaps referring to precious silk; 给 is a later simplified form.

Open 给 →

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