zi6 lik6 gang1 sang1自力更生
Definition
To stand on one's own feet; to be self-reliant and make a fresh start through one's own efforts.
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral independence and maturity, often used to encourage someone to stop being a burden on their parents or family. While it sounds slightly formal or literary, it is frequently used in serious conversations about personal responsibility or financial independence. It implies a transition from being dependent to being a productive, self-sustaining individual.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simple independence, but it specifically carries the weight of overcoming a previous state of reliance or hardship. It is not used for minor tasks like cooking a meal for oneself, but rather for major life changes like finding a job or moving out.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
