fēng yī zú shí: 丰衣足食 - Well-fed and well-clothed; Having ample food and clothing

• Keywords: fengyizushi, fēng yī zú shí, 丰衣足食, ample food and clothing, well-fed and well-clothed, material abundance, Chinese idiom for prosperity, basic needs met, comfortable life, Chinese dream
• Summary: The Chinese idiom 丰衣足食 (fēng yī zú shí) literally translates to “abundant clothing, sufficient food.” It describes a life of material security where all basic needs are comfortably met. More than just survival, this term represents a fundamental level of prosperity and well-being that is a cornerstone of the traditional Chinese dream. For learners, understanding 丰衣足食 offers insight into cultural values surrounding stability, family, and the definition of a good life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fēng yī zú shí
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Chinese idiom), Adjective
• HSK Level: N/A (but a common Chengyu)
• Concise Definition: To have ample food and clothing; to be well-fed and well-clothed.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine no longer worrying about having enough to eat or clothes to keep you warm. That state of comfortable security is the essence of `丰衣足食`. It doesn't mean you're rich and famous, but that you have achieved a stable, comfortable life free from material hardship. It's a deeply positive and aspirational state, representing the foundation upon which a happy life is built.

• 丰 (fēng): Abundant, plentiful, copious. The character originally depicted a vessel full of offerings, symbolizing abundance.
• 衣 (yī): Clothes, clothing. This character is a simple pictogram of a coat or upper garment.
• 足 (zú): Sufficient, enough, ample. While it also means “foot,” in this context it means to have enough of something.
• 食 (shí): Food, to eat. This character depicts a container with a lid, representing a meal or food.

When combined, 丰衣足食 (fēng yī zú shí) creates a very direct and vivid image: plentiful clothes and sufficient food. This four-character phrase elegantly captures the concept of having all one's basic material needs met in abundance.

The concept of `丰衣足食` is profoundly important in Chinese culture, largely due to China's long history marked by periods of famine, war, and poverty. For much of its history, simply achieving this state was a life's goal for the vast majority of people.

• The Foundation of the Good Life: Unlike the Western “American Dream,” which often emphasizes upward mobility, immense wealth, and individual achievement, `丰衣足食` is more grounded. It is the prerequisite for a good life. It represents stability and security first and foremost. The belief is that only when a person or family is `丰衣足食` can they begin to pursue higher goals like education for their children, arts, and personal fulfillment (`安居乐业` - living and working in peace and contentment).
• A Sign of Good Governance: On a societal level, a population that is `丰衣足食` is seen as the ultimate sign of a stable society and a competent government. It's a key performance indicator for leaders, both historically and in modern political discourse. When a government official says they are working to ensure the people are `丰衣足食`, they are promising fundamental prosperity and stability.
• Family and Generational Gratitude: The term is often used by older generations to express gratitude for their current living standards, especially when compared to the hardships they or their parents faced. Providing a life of `丰衣足食` for one's children is a source of immense pride for parents.

`丰衣足食` is a versatile idiom used in both formal and informal contexts. Its meaning is universally understood.

• Describing a Goal or Aspiration: People often use it to describe their hopes for their family's future or what they are working towards.
• Expressing Gratitude: It's common to hear someone say, “Compared to the past, our lives now are truly `丰衣足食`.”
• Formal Speeches and News: Government officials and news reports use it to describe economic progress and rising living standards.
• Blessings and Well-Wishes: You can wish someone a future of `丰衣足食` to hope they have a comfortable and secure life.

The connotation is always positive. While it can feel a bit traditional or formal, it's not out of place in everyday conversation, especially when discussing life goals, family, or societal changes.

• Example 1:
  • 经过几十年的努力，中国人民过上了丰衣足食的生活。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò jǐ shí nián de nǔlì, Zhōngguó rénmín guò shàngle fēng yī zú shí de shēnghuó.
  • English: After several decades of hard work, the Chinese people have come to live a life of ample food and clothing.
  • Analysis: This is a typical formal usage, often seen in news or official statements, describing national progress in macro terms.
• Example 2:
  • 父母最大的心愿就是希望孩子们能丰衣足食，健康快乐。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zuìdà de xīnyuàn jiùshì xīwàng háizimen néng fēng yī zú shí, jiànkāng kuàilè.
  • English: The greatest wish of parents is for their children to be well-fed and well-clothed, healthy and happy.
  • Analysis: This shows `丰衣足食` as a core family value and a fundamental aspiration parents have for their children.
• Example 3:
  • 只要我们努力工作，就一定能过上丰衣足食的好日子。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen nǔlì gōngzuò, jiù yídìng néng guò shàng fēng yī zú shí de hǎo rìzi.
  • English: As long as we work hard, we can definitely live a good life with ample food and clothing.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used as a personal motivation, linking hard work directly to achieving a stable, comfortable life.
• Example 4:
  • 奶奶常常说，比起她小时候，我们现在的生活简直是丰衣足食。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai chángcháng shuō, bǐqǐ tā xiǎoshíhou, wǒmen xiànzài de shēnghuó jiǎnzhí shì fēng yī zú shí.
  • English: Grandma often says that compared to her childhood, our life now is simply one of abundance.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the generational perspective and is a common way `丰衣足食` is used in family conversations to express gratitude for modern comforts.
• Example 5:
  • 在这个富裕的村庄里，家家户户都丰衣足食。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège fùyù de cūnzhuāng lǐ, jiājiā hùhù dōu fēng yī zú shí.
  • English: In this prosperous village, every household is well-fed and well-clothed.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used as a predicate to describe the collective state of a community.
• Example 6:
  • 他不追求名利，只希望能过一种丰衣足食的安稳生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù zhuīqiú mínglì, zhǐ xīwàng néng guò yì zhǒng fēng yī zú shí de ānwěn shēnghuó.
  • English: He doesn't chase fame and fortune; he only hopes to live a stable life with enough to eat and wear.
  • Analysis: This example contrasts `丰衣足食` with higher ambitions like `名利` (fame and profit), positioning it as a humble and content life goal.
• Example 7:
  • 实现丰衣足食是国家发展的基本目标之一。
  • Pinyin: Shíxiàn fēng yī zú shí shì guójiā fāzhǎn de jīběn mùbiāo zhī yī.
  • English: Achieving a state where people are well-fed and well-clothed is one of the basic goals of national development.
  • Analysis: A very formal example, treating `丰衣足食` as a concrete policy objective.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然他现在还很辛苦，但他相信未来一定是丰衣足食的。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā xiànzài hái hěn xīnkǔ, dàn tā xiāngxìn wèilái yídìng shì fēng yī zú shí de.
  • English: Although he is still struggling now, he believes the future will surely be one of comfortable sufficiency.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom to express hope and optimism for the future.
• Example 9:
  • 祝你新的一年里丰衣足食，万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐ xīn de yì nián lǐ fēng yī zú shí, wànshì rúyì!
  • English: Wishing you ample food and clothing and that all your wishes come true in the new year!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using `丰衣足食` as a blessing or well-wish, common during Chinese New Year or other celebrations.
• Example 10:
  • 古代的大多数普通人，一辈子都在为丰衣足食而奋斗。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdài de dàduōshù pǔtōngrén, yíbèizi dōu zài wèi fēng yī zú shí ér fèndòu.
  • English: The majority of ordinary people in ancient times struggled their entire lives just to have enough food and clothing.
  • Analysis: This provides historical context, emphasizing that this state of being, which many take for granted today, was once a life-long struggle.

• Mistake 1: Confusing “丰衣足食” with “rich”.
  • `丰衣足食` means having enough to live comfortably. It's about security, not luxury. A person can be `丰衣足食` living in a simple apartment with a stable job. It does not imply they are wealthy (`有钱 yǒuqián`) or living a life of splendor (`荣华富贵 rónghuá fùguì`).
  • Incorrect: 他买了一辆法拉利，真是丰衣足食啊！(Tā mǎile yí liàng Fǎlālì, zhēnshi fēng yī zú shí a!)
  • Why it's wrong: A Ferrari is a luxury item, far beyond the scope of “sufficient food and clothing.” This usage is an exaggeration and sounds strange. You would simply say he is very rich (`真有钱 zhēn yǒuqián`).
• Mistake 2: Applying it to a temporary state or a single item.
  • `丰衣足食` describes a general, stable state of living, not a fleeting moment. You wouldn't use it to describe having one good meal.
  • Incorrect: 我今天吃了一顿大餐，感觉丰衣足食。 (Wǒ jīntiān chīle yí dùn dàcān, gǎnjué fēng yī zú shí.)
  • Why it's wrong: It describes a long-term condition, not the feeling after a single meal. For that, you would say you are full (`吃饱了 chī bǎo le`) or satisfied (`很满足 hěn mǎnzú`).

• `安居乐业 (ānjū lèyè)` - To live and work in peace and contentment. This is the psychological and social well-being that often follows the material security of `丰衣足食`.
• `衣食无忧 (yī shí wú yōu)` - To have no worries about clothing and food. A very close synonym and often used interchangeably with `丰衣足食`.
• `温饱 (wēnbǎo)` - Warmth and fullness; having just enough food and clothing. This is the most basic level of survival. `丰衣足食` is a significant step above `温饱`, implying comfort and sufficiency, not just avoiding hunger and cold.
• `小康 (xiǎokāng)` - A moderately prosperous society. A modern political and economic term that encompasses `丰衣足食` on a national scale, but also includes access to education, healthcare, and a better living environment.
• `国泰民安 (guótài mín'ān)` - The country is prosperous and its people are at peace. A macro-level concept for which `丰衣足食` is a necessary condition for the “people's peace” part.
• `荣华富贵 (rónghuá fùguì)` - Glory, splendor, wealth, and high status. This describes a life of luxury and power, which is far beyond the comfortable stability of `丰衣足食`.
• `自给自足 (zìjǐ zìzú)` - Self-sufficient. Describes the ability to provide for oneself without outside help. One could be `自给自足` but not yet `丰衣足食` (e.g., a farmer who grows just enough to survive).
• `饥寒交迫 (jī hán jiāo pò)` - Tormented by hunger and cold. The direct and powerful antonym of `丰衣足食`.