自立门户

自立門戶

zìlìménhù

idiom

Meanings

1 to set up one's own household
2 to strike out on one's own
3 to form one's own school of thought

Characters

to stand, to establish

household, family unit

Examples

他学成之后决定自立门户，开了自己的律师事务所。

Tā xué chéng zhī hòu juédìng zìlìménhù, kāi le zìjǐ de lǜshī shìwùsuǒ.

After completing his training, he decided to strike out on his own and opened his own law firm.

这位画家晚年才自立门户，形成了独特的风格。

Zhè wèi huàjiā wǎnnián cái zìlìménhù, xíngchéng le dútè de fēnggé.

This painter only established his own school late in life, developing a unique style.

结婚后他们就从父母家搬出来自立门户了。

Jiéhūn hòu tāmen jiù cóng fùmǔ jiā bān chūlái zìlìménhù le.

After getting married, they moved out of their parents' home and set up their own household.

Tips

usage

Three common senses: (1) leaving the family home, (2) starting your own business or practice, (3) founding a new school in academia or the arts. Context decides which.

memory

门户 literally = 'door and household.' To 自立 (self-establish) your own 门户 is to hang your own shingle.

Stroke Order

自 zì

立 lì

门 mén

户 hù