Definition
自食其力 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to earn one's own living' or 'to be self-supporting'. The literal breakdown is 自 (self) + 食 (eat) + 其 (one's) + 力 (strength/effort), implying you rely on your own labor rather than depending on others. It carries a positive connotation of independence and personal responsibility.
f.e.
to earn one's own livingto be self-supporting
Examples
- ，自食其力，。Bìyè hòu, tā kāishǐ zì shí qí lì, bú zài xiàng fùmǔ yào qián.After graduation, he started earning his own living and no longer asked his parents for money.
- 自食其力。Wǒmen yīngdāng gǔlì niánqīng rén xuéhuì zì shí qí lì.We should encourage young people to learn to be self-supporting.
- ，自食其力。Tā suīrán niánjì xiǎo, dàn yǐjīng nénggòu zì shí qí lì le.Although he is young, he is already able to earn his own living.
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