自力更生

zìlì-gēngshēng

idiom HSK 7-9 #20,168

Meanings

1 to rely on one's own efforts
2 self-reliance

Characters

strength; power

to change; to renew

Examples

我们要自力更生，不能总依赖别人。

Wǒmen yào zìlìgēngshēng, bùnéng zǒng yīlài biérén.

We must be self-reliant and not always depend on others.

这个国家走上了自力更生的道路。

Zhège guójiā zǒu shàng le zìlìgēngshēng de dàolù.

This country has taken the path of self-reliance.

Tips

history

自力更生 was a major political slogan during the Mao era, emphasizing national self-sufficiency. It remains widely used in everyday language to mean relying on one's own efforts.

Stroke Order

自 zì

力 lì

更 gèng

生 shēng