Skip to content
zì 自 shí 食 qí 其 lì 力

自食其力 zì shí qí lì

to earn one's own living; self-supporting

Literally: self eat one's strength

Beginner 💼 Work & money
🃏 Practise beginner chengyu

Tap a character above to see its stroke order and the words it appears in.

Origin

From the Book of Rites (Li Yun) and the Han dynasty Yantie Lun, describing people who live by their own labour.

How to use it

Predicate; positive. Often 靠自己自食其力.

Example sentences

Show:

Tap any word for its meaning and pinyin. The chengyu is highlighted.

  1. 大学毕业以后，他就自食其力，不再要父母的钱了。
    Dàxué bìyè yǐhòu, tā jiù zì shí qí lì, bù zài yào fùmǔ de qián le.
    After graduating from university he supported himself and stopped taking money from his parents.
    university graduate after, he then self eat one's strength, not again want parents (particle) money (particle)
  2. 我们应该教孩子自食其力。
    Wǒmen yīnggāi jiāo háizi zì shí qí lì.
    We should teach children to stand on their own feet.
    we should teach child self eat one's strength

More chengyu about work & money

All work & money chengyu →