自食其力
zì shí qí lì
to earn one’s own living; to support oneself by one’s own work
Character by character
自zì
self
self
食shí
eat
eat
其qí
one’s own
one’s own
力lì
strength
strength
Example
他大学一毕业就自食其力，再也没向父母要过钱。
He has supported himself ever since he graduated and has never again asked his parents for money.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
其 is “one’s own”. Often contrasted with living off one’s parents (啃老), and common in policy language on jobs for disabled people: 让残疾人自食其力.
Learn this in Lesson 164 · HSK 7–9: 看不见的世界 (A world without sight)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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