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独立自主 (dú lì zì zhǔ) — maintain independence and self-determination; act independently and on one's own initiative

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning 'independent and self-reliant' — emphasizes keeping full control of one's own decisions and initiative, without outside control. Typically describes a nation's foreign policy or a person's mature, autonomous stance.

idiom
maintain independence and self-determinationact independently and on one's own initiative

Examples

  • 独立自主。
    Zhōng guó jiān chí dú lì zì zhǔ de hé píng wài jiāo zhèng cè.
    China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace.
  • 独立自主，。
    Nián qīng rén yào xué huì dú lì zì zhǔ, bú yào zǒng shì yī lài fù mǔ.
    Young people need to learn independence and not always rely on their parents.
  • 独立自主。
    Zhè ge guó jiā jīng guò duō nián fèn dòu zhōng yú shí xiàn le dú lì zì zhǔ.
    After years of struggle, this country finally achieved independence and self-determination.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

独立independent
独dúalone立lìstand
偏正Modifier + head
自主self-governing
自zìself主zhǔgovern
主谓Subject + predicate

独立 means standing alone and 自主 means governing oneself, together stressing independence and self-direction.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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 →

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.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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