自立门户

自立門戶

zìlì-ménhù

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

HSK 3

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 zìlì-ménhù le.

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

HSK 7-9

他学成之后决定自立门户，开了自己的律师事务所。

Tā xué chéng zhīhòu juédìng zìlì-ménhù, kāi le zìjǐ de lǜshī shìwùsuǒ.

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

HSK 7-9

这位画家晚年才自立门户，形成了独特的风格。

Zhè wèi huàjiā wǎnnián cái zìlì-ménhù, xíngchéng le dútè de fēnggé.

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

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