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bái 白 shǒu 手 qǐ 起 jiā 家

白手起家 bái shǒu qǐ jiā

to build up from nothing; self-made

Literally: white hands raise family

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Attested in Ming and Qing fiction.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 白手起家的老板.

Example sentences

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  1. 他白手起家，现在有了三家饭店。
    Tā bái shǒu qǐ jiā, xiànzài yǒu le sān jiā fàndiàn.
    He started from nothing and now owns three restaurants.
    he white hands raise family, now have (particle) three (measure) restaurant
  2. 我最佩服白手起家的人。
    Wǒ zuì pèifú bái shǒu qǐ jiā de rén.
    The people I admire most are those who are self-made.
    I most admire white hands raise family (particle) person

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