zi6 fung6自奉
Jyutpingzi6 fung6
Yalejih fuhng
Definition
To provide for oneself; one's personal lifestyle or standard of living.
writtenpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of sustaining one's own livelihood, often implying the transition from being dependent on family to becoming independent. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to everyday phrases like 養活自己. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation among friends, as it sounds more like a description of a person's life stage or financial status.
Examples
He moved out to live on his own, so he has to provide for himself now.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 自私, which means selfish. While 自奉 focuses on self-sufficiency and providing for one's own needs, 自私 describes a personality trait of putting oneself before others.
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
