起家 (qǐ jiā) — to build up (a fortune, reputation, etc.) from scratch; to start out in a career; the beginning of one's success; origins of a fortune/career
Definition
起家 means to build a career or fortune from nothing, almost always paired with 白手 ('white-handed') to stress having no resources to start. It focuses on the humble ORIGINS of later success, not success itself.
verb
to build up (a fortune, reputation, etc.) from scratchto start out in a careerthe beginning of one's successorigins of a fortune/career
Examples
- 。Tā kào mài cài qǐ le jiā.He started his career by selling vegetables.
- 。Zhè jiā gōng sī shì bái shǒu qǐ jiā de.This company was started from scratch.
- 。Hěn duō chéng gōng rén shì dōu shì bái shǒu qǐ jiā de.Many successful people started from scratch.
Appears in
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