AdvancedChinese Idiom (成语)

自力更生

zì lì gēng shēng

“To rely on one's own efforts for regeneration”

Meaning: To rely on one's own efforts; self-reliance; to be self-sufficient; to build oneself up through one's own work

Character-by-Character Breakdown

life / to live / to grow

HSK 1

The Story Behind 自力更生

Source:现代用语

Period:Modern Era (20th Century)

Self-Reliance

The idiom 自力更生 became prominent in modern Chinese history, particularly during the 20th century.

It emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and building oneself up through one's own efforts.

The phrase teaches that true strength comes from one's own work, not from depending on others.

It reflects the value of independence and self-sufficiency in both personal and national development.

Original Classical Chinese

自力更生，艰苦奋斗。

How to Use 自力更生

This idiom is used to describe relying on one's own efforts rather than depending on others.

It emphasizes self-reliance, independence, and building oneself up through one's own work.

The idiom is often used to praise self-sufficiency or to encourage independence.

When to use:

Use when praising self-reliance or independence
Often used to describe building oneself up through one's own work
Can be used to encourage independence and self-sufficiency

Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with refusing help. It specifically refers to relying on one's own efforts as a principle, not necessarily rejecting all assistance.

Example Sentences

他决定自力更生，不依靠家人的帮助。

Tā juédìng zì lì gēng shēng, bù yīkào jiārén de bāngzhù.

He decided to rely on his own efforts and not depend on his family's help.

这个国家通过自力更生，实现了快速发展。

Zhège guójiā tōngguò zì lì gēng shēng, shíxiàn le kuàisù fāzhǎn.

This country achieved rapid development through self-reliance.

我们要自力更生，不能总是依赖别人。

Wǒmen yào zì lì gēng shēng, bù néng zǒngshì yīlài biérén.

We need to rely on our own efforts and cannot always depend on others.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

自stroke order 力stroke order 更stroke order 生stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng) mean?

自力更生 literally means "to rely on one's own efforts for regeneration." Figuratively, it means to rely on one's own efforts, self-reliance, to be self-sufficient, or to build oneself up through one's own work. It emphasizes independence and self-sufficiency.

What is the difference between 自力更生 and 真才实学?

Both idioms emphasize genuine ability, but 自力更生 focuses on relying on one's own efforts (self-reliance), while 真才实学 focuses on having real talent and learning (genuine ability). 自力更生 is about independence, 真才实学 is about genuine capability.

How do you use 自力更生 in a sentence?

Use 自力更生 when describing self-reliance. For example: "他决定自力更生，不依靠家人的帮助" (He decided to rely on his own efforts and not depend on his family's help).

Is 自力更生 always positive?

Yes, 自力更生 is always positive. It's used to praise self-reliance, independence, and building oneself up through one's own work. It emphasizes the value of self-sufficiency.

Is 自力更生 difficult to learn?

自力更生 is considered intermediate level. It uses relatively common characters (自 HSK2, 力 HSK2, 更 HSK3, 生 HSK1). The concept is clear and the idiom is commonly used in modern Chinese.