ānjūlèyè: 安居乐业 - To Live and Work in Peace and Contentment

• Keywords: anjuleye, an ju le ye, 安居乐业, live and work in peace, live in peace and work happily, peaceful and contented life, Chinese idiom for stability, stable and prosperous life, Chinese cultural values, societal harmony.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 安居乐业 (ānjūlèyè), a core Chinese idiom that encapsulates the ultimate societal and personal goal: to live in a safe, stable home and work with contentment and purpose. More than just “happiness,” this term reflects the deep-seated cultural value of stability, security, and social harmony. This page explores its characters, cultural roots, modern usage, and how it differs from Western concepts like the “American Dream.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ānjūlèyè
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Chinese Idiom); can function as a verb or adjective.
• HSK Level: N/A (Commonly used, but not on the official HSK vocabulary lists).
• Concise Definition: To live in peace and be happy in one's work.
• In a Nutshell: 安居乐业 (ānjūlèyè) paints a picture of the ideal life from a traditional Chinese perspective. It's not about being rich or famous, but about having the two fundamental pillars of a good life secured: a safe and stable place to live (安居) and a fulfilling, steady occupation (乐业). It represents a state of peace, contentment, and security for both individuals and society as a whole.

• 安 (ān): Peace, safety, security. The character originally depicted a woman (女) under a roof (宀), symbolizing the tranquility and safety of home.
• 居 (jū): To reside, to live, a home. This character reinforces the idea of having a settled place.
• 乐 (lè): Happy, joyful, to enjoy. It signifies finding pleasure and contentment in one's activities.
• 业 (yè): Occupation, profession, trade, enterprise. This refers to one's work or livelihood.

The phrase is perfectly structured. 安居 (ān jū) means “to live in peace,” and 乐业 (lè yè) means “to be happy in one's work.” Together, they form a complete and harmonious vision of a well-ordered life, where a stable home life and a satisfying work life support each other.

安居乐业 is a cornerstone of Chinese social and political thought, deeply rooted in Confucian ideals. For thousands of years, it has been considered the primary goal and measure of good governance. A wise emperor or a successful government was one that could create the conditions—peace, stability, and economic opportunity—for the common people to achieve 安居乐业. Comparison to the “American Dream”: While both concepts represent an ideal life, they have different focuses.

• The American Dream often emphasizes individualism, upward mobility, and the pursuit of great material wealth or fame. It's a dream of “becoming,” of constantly striving for more.
• 安居乐业, in contrast, emphasizes stability, community, and contentment. It is a dream of “being”—being secure, being at peace, and being a harmonious part of society. It values predictability and security over risk and dramatic change.

This reflects the high value placed on 稳定 (wěndìng) - stability in Chinese culture. A life of 安居乐业 is seen as the foundation upon which all other forms of happiness and prosperity are built.

This idiom remains highly relevant today, though its usage is often formal or aspirational.

• Government and News: You will frequently hear 安居乐业 in government reports, political speeches, and news articles. It's used to describe policy goals or the positive outcomes of a government program. For example, a report on poverty alleviation might conclude that the program has helped villagers 安居乐业.
• Personal Aspiration: In conversation, people might use it to express their personal life goals, especially when contrasting with a more hectic, high-pressure lifestyle. It can be a sincere wish for a simple, stable, and happy life for oneself or for one's children.
• Connotation and Formality: The term is overwhelmingly positive and carries a slightly formal, literary tone. While everyone understands it, it's not typically used in very casual, slangy conversations. It’s more suited for expressing sincere wishes, describing ideal conditions, or discussing societal issues.

• Example 1:
  • 政府的目标是让所有公民都能安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ de mùbiāo shì ràng suǒyǒu gōngmín dōu néng ānjūlèyè.
  • English: The government's goal is to enable all citizens to live and work in peace and contentment.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of the term used in a formal, political context to state a policy objective.
• Example 2:
  • 战争结束后，人民终于可以安居乐业了。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng jiéshù hòu, rénmín zhōngyú kěyǐ ānjūlèyè le.
  • English: After the war ended, the people could finally live in peace and work happily.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the precondition of peace and stability for 安居乐业.
• Example 3:
  • 我不求大富大贵，只希望家人能安居乐业，平平安安。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù qiú dàfùdàguì, zhǐ xīwàng jiārén néng ānjūlèyè, píngpíng'ān'ān.
  • English: I'm not asking for great wealth, I just hope my family can live a stable and contented life in peace and safety.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used as a personal, heartfelt wish, contrasting with the pursuit of riches.
• Example 4:
  • 这个小镇环境优美，社会安定，居民们都安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiǎo zhèn huánjìng yōuměi, shèhuì āndìng, jūmínmen dōu ānjūlèyè.
  • English: This small town has a beautiful environment and a stable society; the residents all live and work in contentment.
  • Analysis: The idiom is used here to describe the ideal state of a community.
• Example 5:
  • 良好的社会保障体系是老百姓安居乐业的基础。
  • Pinyin: Liánghǎo de shèhuì bǎozhàng tǐxì shì lǎobǎixìng ānjūlèyè de jīchǔ.
  • English: A good social security system is the foundation for the common people to live stable and happy lives.
  • Analysis: This sentence points to the structural requirements needed for a society to achieve this state.
• Example 6:
  • 父母对我们的期望其实很简单，就是希望我们能安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ duì wǒmen de qīwàng qíshí hěn jiǎndān, jiùshì xīwàng wǒmen néng ānjūlèyè.
  • English: Our parents' expectations for us are actually very simple: they just hope we can have a stable home and a happy career.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used to describe a common intergenerational hope.
• Example 7:
  • 只有国家稳定，我们才能安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu guójiā wěndìng, wǒmen cáinéng ānjūlèyè.
  • English: Only if the country is stable can we live and work in peace.
  • Analysis: This directly links the individual's state of well-being to the nation's stability.
• Example 8:
  • 他放弃了城市里高薪但压力大的工作，回到家乡过上了安居乐业的生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā fàngqìle chéngshì lǐ gāoxīn dàn yālì dà de gōngzuò, huí dào jiāxiāng guò shàngle ānjūlèyè de shēnghuó.
  • English: He gave up his high-paying but high-pressure job in the city and returned to his hometown to live a peaceful and contented life.
  • Analysis: Here, 安居乐业 is used as an adjective to describe a type of “life” (生活), representing a conscious choice for stability over high-pressure ambition.
• Example 9:
  • 在这个繁荣的时代，大部分人都能安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège fánróng de shídài, dàbùfèn rén dōu néng ānjūlèyè.
  • English: In this prosperous era, the majority of people are able to live and work in peace.
  • Analysis: This links prosperity (繁荣) with the ability to achieve a stable, happy life.
• Example 10:
  • 新的经济政策旨在创造更多就业机会，让人民安居乐业。
  • Pinyin: Xīn de jīngjì zhèngcè zhǐ zài chuàngzào gèngduō jiùyè jīhuì, ràng rénmín ānjūlèyè.
  • English: The new economic policy aims to create more job opportunities so that the people can live stable and contented lives.
  • Analysis: This shows the direct connection between the “work” part (乐业) and the overall goal.

• Not for Fleeting Joy: Do not use 安居乐业 to describe a temporary state of happiness, like having a fun weekend or enjoying a party. It refers to a long-term, stable state of being related to one's home and work.
  • Incorrect: 我今天考试考得很好，真是安居乐业！ (Wǒ jīntiān kǎoshì kǎo dé hěn hǎo, zhēnshi ānjūlèyè!)
  • Reason: This is incorrect because passing an exam is a momentary event, not a stable life condition. You would simply say “我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāoxìng)”.
• Implies Stability, Not Excitement: The term is contrary to a life of high risk, constant change, or adventurous pursuit. A “digital nomad” or a high-stakes entrepreneur, even if happy, would not be described as living a life of 安居乐业. The essence is peace and predictability.
• False Friend: “Work-Life Balance”: While related, it's not the same as the modern Western concept of “work-life balance.” Work-life balance often implies a struggle between two separate and competing domains. 安居乐业 presents a more traditional, holistic ideal where a stable home and a contentful work life are two harmonious, integrated parts of a single, well-ordered existence.

• 国泰民安 (guótàimín'ān) - The country is prosperous and the people are at peace. This is a macro-level version of 安居乐业, describing the state of the entire nation.
• 天下太平 (tiānxià tàipíng) - All is at peace under heaven. An even grander, more classical term for universal peace, often seen as the ultimate goal of a sage ruler.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable; stability. This is the core value that underpins the desire for 安居乐业.
• 小康 (xiǎokāng) - A moderately prosperous society. A modern socio-economic term used by the PRC government. Achieving a 小康 society is seen as the prerequisite for the people to 安居乐业.
• 丰衣足食 (fēngyīzúshí) - To have ample food and clothing. This idiom focuses on material sufficiency, which is a key component of being able to 安居乐业.
• 和谐社会 (héxié shèhuì) - Harmonious society. A major political concept in 21st-century China where a society of people living in 安居乐业 is a key indicator of harmony.
• 幸福 (xìngfú) - Happiness; well-being. A broader term for happiness, for which 安居乐业 is considered a fundamental component.