báishǒu qǐjiā: 白手起家 - To Start from Scratch, Self-Made, Build from Nothing

• Keywords: báishǒu qǐjiā, 白手起家, start from scratch Chinese, self-made Chinese, build an empire from nothing, Chinese idiom for entrepreneurship, rags-to-riches Chinese, how to say start from nothing in Chinese.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom 白手起家 (báishǒu qǐjiā) is a powerful and respected phrase that means “to start from scratch” or to become “self-made.” It describes the inspiring journey of building a successful business, career, or family fortune from absolutely nothing—no money, no connections, no inherited advantages. This term is central to the modern Chinese dream, celebrating entrepreneurs and individuals who achieve great success through pure hard work, resilience, and vision. It is the ultimate “rags-to-riches” story in a Chinese cultural context.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): báishǒu qǐjiā
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu), Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Commonly used in HSK 6+ contexts and general media)
• Concise Definition: To start a business or build a family fortune empty-handed.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine having no money, no powerful friends, and no family business to fall back on. Then, through your own grit and intelligence, you build a successful enterprise. That is the essence of 白手起家 (báishǒu qǐjiā). It's not just about “starting a new job”; it's about creating something substantial from zero. The term carries a deep sense of admiration and respect for the immense difficulty and achievement involved.

• 白 (bái): White. In many contexts, it also means “empty,” “plain,” or “bare.” Here, it signifies “empty” or “for nothing.” Think of a blank piece of paper.
• 手 (shǒu): Hand. This is a straightforward character representing one's hands, and by extension, one's own labor and effort.
• 起 (qǐ): To rise, to start, to establish, to build up.
• 家 (jiā): Home or family. In this idiom, its meaning expands to encompass a “family fortune,” “enterprise,” or “business legacy” (家业 - jiāyè).

Putting them together, the idiom literally translates to “with empty hands (白手), one builds up (起) an enterprise/fortune (家).”

白手起家 (báishǒu qǐjiā) is the Chinese embodiment of the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” narrative, but with a unique cultural flavor. While the American “self-made man” often emphasizes individualistic triumph, 白手起家 frequently carries a broader, more communal weight. The goal is often not just personal wealth, but establishing a 家业 (jiāyè)—a family enterprise or legacy that provides stability and honor for the entire family unit, including future generations. This concept is particularly resonant in modern China. Following the economic reforms (改革开放 - gǎigé kāifàng) of the late 20th century, countless individuals seized the opportunity to build businesses in a rapidly changing landscape. Stories of 白手起家 entrepreneurs, like Jack Ma (马云) of Alibaba, became modern-day legends, inspiring millions. They represent the ultimate realization of the Chinese dream through 勤劳 (qínláo - diligence) and 奋斗 (fèndòu - struggle/striving), two deeply ingrained cultural values. The term encapsulates a journey of overcoming hardship to achieve not just success, but also social respect.

白手起家 (báishǒu qǐjiā) is used widely in both formal and informal contexts, but it always carries a strong, positive, and admirable connotation.

• In Business and Media: It's a staple in news reports, biographies, and interviews about successful entrepreneurs. It's used to frame their story and highlight their admirable beginnings.
• In Conversation: People use it to praise someone they know, or to describe the history of a local business owner. For example: “The owner of that restaurant? He was a classic case of 白手起家.”
• As a Personal Goal: A young, ambitious person might say they aspire to 白手起家 to express their dream of building something of their own without relying on others.

It is almost never used sarcastically or negatively. It is a badge of honor.

• Example 1:
  • 我爷爷是 白手起家 的，他年轻时非常辛苦。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye shì báishǒu qǐjiā de, tā niánqīng shí fēicháng xīnkǔ.
  • English: My grandpa was self-made; he worked incredibly hard when he was young.
  • Analysis: A common and personal way to describe a family member's history with respect. The phrase `是…的` is used to emphasize the details of a past event.
• Example 2:
  • 很多成功的企业家都是 白手起家，他们的故事很鼓舞人心。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō chénggōng de qǐyèjiā dōu shì báishǒu qǐjiā, tāmen de gùshi hěn gǔwǔ rénxīn.
  • English: Many successful entrepreneurs started from scratch; their stories are very inspiring.
  • Analysis: This sentence generalizes the concept and connects it to inspiration, a common theme associated with the idiom.
• Example 3:
  • 他没有任何背景，完全是靠自己 白手起家。
  • Pinyin: Tā méiyǒu rènhé bèijǐng, wánquán shì kào zìjǐ báishǒu qǐjiā.
  • English: He didn't have any connections (background); he built his success entirely on his own from nothing.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the “from nothing” aspect by explicitly mentioning `没有任何背景` (no background/connections).
• Example 4:
  • 对于一个刚毕业的大学生来说，白手起家 真的太难了。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú yīgè gāng bìyè de dàxuéshēng lái shuō, báishǒu qǐjiā zhēn de tài nán le.
  • English: For a recent college graduate, starting a business from scratch is really too difficult.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is used to describe the immense difficulty of the endeavor, showing a realistic perspective.
• Example 5:
  • 如今的商业环境，还能 白手起家 吗？
  • Pinyin: Rújīn de shāngyè huánjìng, hái néng báishǒu qǐjiā ma?
  • English: In today's business environment, is it still possible to make it from scratch?
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a question to provoke discussion about economic opportunity.
• Example 6:
  • 这本书讲述了一个农民如何 白手起家，成为亿万富翁的传奇经历。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū jiǎngshùle yīgè nóngmín rúhé báishǒu qǐjiā, chéngwéi yìwàn fùwēng de chuánqí jīnglì.
  • English: This book tells the legendary story of how a farmer started from nothing and became a billionaire.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in storytelling and media, often paired with words like `传奇` (legendary).
• Example 7:
  • 他虽然不是 白手起家，但也付出了巨大的努力。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán bùshì báishǒu qǐjiā, dàn yě fùchūle jùdà de nǔlì.
  • English: Although he wasn't self-made (i.e., he had some help), he still put in a tremendous amount of effort.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides a good contrast, showing that you can acknowledge someone's hard work even if they don't perfectly fit the “from nothing” definition.
• Example 8:
  • 别看他现在这么有钱，想当年他也是 白手起家 的。
  • Pinyin: Bié kàn tā xiànzài zhème yǒuqián, xiǎng dāngnián tā yěshì báishǒu qǐjiā de.
  • English: Don't just look at how rich he is now; back in the day, he also started from scratch.
  • Analysis: `想当年` (xiǎng dāngnián) is a classic phrase meaning “thinking back to those years,” perfectly setting the stage for a `白手起家` story.
• Example 9:
  • 他的梦想就是在深圳 白手起家，创造属于自己的一片天。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng jiùshì zài Shēnzhèn báishǒu qǐjiā, chuàngzào shǔyú zìjǐ de yīpiàn tiān.
  • English: His dream is to make it from scratch in Shenzhen and create his own world (lit. “a piece of sky belonging to himself”).
  • Analysis: This example shows the idiom as part of a personal aspiration, linked to a specific place (Shenzhen) known for its economic opportunities.
• Example 10:
  • 从一个街头小贩到拥有自己的连锁餐厅，他 白手起家 的故事激励了整个社区。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yīgè jiētóu xiǎofàn dào yōngyǒu zìjǐ de liánsuǒ cāntīng, tā báishǒu qǐjiā de gùshi jīlìle zhěnggè shèqū.
  • English: From a street vendor to owning his own restaurant chain, his story of starting from scratch inspired the entire community.
  • Analysis: This sentence paints a vivid “before and after” picture, which is the classic structure for a `白手起家` narrative.

• Not Just “Starting a Business”: A common mistake for learners is to equate 白手起家 with the more general term `创业 (chuàngyè)`, which means “to start a business.” You can `创业` with a million-dollar loan from your parents, but you cannot 白手起家 with that kind of help. The “empty-handed” (白手) part is non-negotiable.
  • Incorrect: 他用父亲给的一百万美元白手起家。 (Tā yòng fùqīn gěi de yībǎi wàn měiyuán báishǒu qǐjiā.) - He started from scratch with the one million dollars his father gave him. (This is a contradiction.)
  • Correct: 他用父亲给的一百万美元创业了。 (Tā yòng fùqīn gěi de yībǎi wàn měiyuán chuàngyè le.) - He started a business with the one million dollars his father gave him.
• Implies Significant Success: The term usually implies that the person has already achieved a significant level of success (e.g., built a stable company, amassed a fortune). You wouldn't use it for someone who just started a small venture last week that isn't profitable yet. It describes a completed or well-underway journey, not just the starting moment.

• 创业 (chuàngyè) - To start a business. This is a more general and neutral term. 白手起家 is a specific, admirable *type* of `创业`.
• 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng) - To be self-reliant; to stand on one's own two feet. This focuses on the principle of not depending on others, which is a key component of 白手起家.
• 一无所有 (yī wú suǒ yǒu) - To have absolutely nothing. This chengyu describes the starting point of someone who is about to 白手起家.
• 艰苦奋斗 (jiān kǔ fèn dòu) - To struggle arduously. This describes the *process* of 白手起家.
• 东山再起 (dōng shān zài qǐ) - To stage a comeback. This is different because it implies a person was once successful, failed, and then rose again. 白手起家 is about the *first* rise from nothing.
• 富二代 (fù èr dài) - “Rich second generation.” This term refers to the children of wealthy entrepreneurs and stands in direct contrast to the spirit of 白手起家. They are often seen as people who inherited their fortune, rather than earning it themselves.