zìlǜ: 自律 - Self-Discipline, Self-Control

• Keywords: zìlǜ, 自律, self-discipline in Chinese, how to say self-control in Chinese, Chinese word for discipline, zilu meaning, what is zìlǜ, Chinese study motivation, Chinese self-improvement, willpower in Chinese, HSK 5
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 自律 (zìlǜ), a core Chinese concept representing self-discipline and self-control. This page explores how zìlǜ is more than just willpower; it's a highly-valued personal trait essential for success in study, career, and personal growth in modern China. Learn how to use it correctly, understand its cultural significance tied to achievement and endurance, and see how it differs from related English and Chinese terms.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zìlǜ
• Part of Speech: Noun / Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The ability to control oneself and one's actions, habits, and desires, often for the purpose of achieving a long-term goal.
• In a Nutshell: 自律 (zìlǜ) is the internal power to regulate your own behavior. It’s not about a momentary burst of willpower, but about creating and sticking to a system or set of rules for yourself. Think of a student who studies for two hours every single day, or an athlete who follows a strict diet and training regimen. This consistent, proactive effort is the essence of zìlǜ. It is viewed as a foundational virtue for achieving anything meaningful.

• 自 (zì): A character that means “self,” “oneself,” or “from.” It's one of the most common characters and is easy to remember as it points inward to the self.
• 律 (lǜ): This character means “law,” “rule,” or “regulation.” You can see it in the word for “lawyer,” 律师 (lǜshī).
• When combined, 自律 (zìlǜ) literally translates to “self-law” or “self-regulation.” This paints a clear picture: you are creating and enforcing your own personal laws to guide your behavior toward a goal.

In Chinese culture, 自律 (zìlǜ) is not just a useful skill; it's a profound moral virtue. It's deeply connected to the Confucian idea of 修身 (xiūshēn), or self-cultivation, where improving oneself is a lifelong duty. A key difference from the Western concept of “motivation” is that 自律 (zìlǜ) is less reliant on feeling inspired. Motivation can be fleeting, but zìlǜ is the engine that keeps you going even when you don't feel like it. It's closely linked with the ability to 吃苦 (chīkǔ), or “eat bitterness,” which means to endure hardship for a future reward. This is especially visible in the context of the 高考 (gāokǎo), China's notoriously difficult college entrance exam. Students are praised not for being “smart,” but for being 自律 (zìlǜ)—for having the discipline to study relentlessly for years. In this context, 自律 (zìlǜ) is seen as the direct cause of success.

自律 (zìlǜ) is a very common and highly positive word used in daily life.

• Health and Fitness: On social media platforms like Xiaohongshu (小红书) and Weibo (微博), you will see countless posts with hashtags like `#自律` or `#自律打卡` (zìlǜ dǎkǎ - self-discipline check-in). People share their workout routines, healthy meals, and early morning wake-up times as proof of their 自律.
• Academics and Work: A teacher might praise a student by saying, “他学习很自律” (Tā xuéxí hěn zìlǜ - He is very self-disciplined in his studies). In the office, a manager might admire an employee who consistently meets deadlines and works diligently as being very 自律.
• Personal Character: Describing someone as 自律 is a significant compliment. It implies they are responsible, reliable, and strong-willed. The opposite, 不自律 (bù zìlǜ), is a criticism, suggesting someone is lazy, indulgent, or lacks control.

• Example 1:
  • 想要减肥成功，你必须非常自律。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎng yào jiǎnféi chénggōng, nǐ bìxū fēicháng zìlǜ.
  • English: If you want to successfully lose weight, you must be very self-disciplined.
  • Analysis: Here, 自律 is used as an adjective describing a necessary quality for achieving a goal (losing weight).
• Example 2:
  • 他是个高度自律的人，每天五点就起床锻炼。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge gāodù zìlǜ de rén, měitiān wǔ diǎn jiù qǐchuáng duànliàn.
  • English: He is a highly self-disciplined person; he gets up at 5 a.m. every day to exercise.
  • Analysis: “高度自律” (gāodù zìlǜ) is a common collocation meaning “highly self-disciplined.” This example shows how 自律 is demonstrated through consistent habits.
• Example 3:
  • 自律给我自由。
  • Pinyin: Zìlǜ gěi wǒ zìyóu.
  • English: Self-discipline gives me freedom.
  • Analysis: This is a very popular, almost philosophical phrase in modern China. It means that by controlling your impulses (自律), you gain the “freedom” to achieve your greater goals. Here, 自律 is used as a noun.
• Example 4:
  • 缺乏自律是很多人失败的主要原因。
  • Pinyin: Quēfá zìlǜ shì hěn duō rén shībài de zhǔyào yuányīn.
  • English: A lack of self-discipline is the main reason many people fail.
  • Analysis: “缺乏” (quēfá) means “to lack.” This sentence highlights the cultural importance placed on 自律 as a prerequisite for success.
• Example 5:
  • 作为一名学生，最重要的是要学会自律。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng xuéshēng, zuì zhòngyào de shì yào xuéhuì zìlǜ.
  • English: As a student, the most important thing is to learn self-discipline.
  • Analysis: This sentence treats 自律 as a skill that can and should be learned, especially in an academic context.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你管不住自己，总是玩手机，那你就是太不自律了。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ guǎn bú zhù zìjǐ, zǒngshì wán shǒujī, nà nǐ jiùshì tài bù zìlǜ le.
  • English: If you can't control yourself and are always playing on your phone, then you are just too undisciplined.
  • Analysis: “不自律” (bù zìlǜ) is the direct negation. This is a common criticism, especially regarding modern distractions like smartphones.
• Example 7:
  • 他的成功归功于他惊人的自律和毅力。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng guīgōng yú tā jīngrén de zìlǜ hé yìlì.
  • English: His success is attributed to his amazing self-discipline and perseverance.
  • Analysis: This shows 自律 often paired with 毅力 (yìlì) (perseverance/willpower). 自律 is the system, and 毅力 is the mental strength to stick to it.
• Example 8:
  • 养成自律的习惯需要时间和耐心。
  • Pinyin: Yǎngchéng zìlǜ de xíguàn xūyào shíjiān hé nàixīn.
  • English: Developing the habit of self-discipline requires time and patience.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that 自律 is not an innate talent but a “习惯” (xíguàn - habit) that is cultivated over time.
• Example 9:
  • 家长应该帮助孩子培养自律能力。
  • Pinyin: Jiāzhǎng yīnggāi bāngzhù háizi péiyǎng zìlǜ nénglì.
  • English: Parents should help their children cultivate the ability of self-discipline.
  • Analysis: “培养…能力” (péiyǎng…nénglì) means to cultivate an ability. This shows how 自律 is seen as a core part of a child's development.
• Example 10:
  • 一个真正自律的人，在没人监督的时候也能坚持。
  • Pinyin: Yī ge zhēnzhèng zìlǜ de rén, zài méi rén jiāndū de shíhou yě néng jiānchí.
  • English: A truly self-disciplined person can persevere even when no one is supervising.
  • Analysis: This perfectly captures the internal nature of 自律—it’s about what you do when you are alone. “监督” (jiāndū) means to supervise.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `自律 (zìlǜ)` with `纪律 (jìlǜ)`.
  • `自律 (zìlǜ)` is internal discipline. It comes from yourself. (e.g., “I make myself study every night.”)
  • `纪律 (jìlǜ)` is external discipline. It refers to rules and regulations imposed by an organization like a school, company, or the army. (e.g., “School discipline is very strict.”)
  • Incorrect: `我们公司的自律很严格。` (Our company's self-discipline is very strict.)
  • Correct: `我们公司的纪律很严格。` (Our company's discipline/rules are very strict.)
  • Correct: `我是一个自律的员工，总是遵守公司纪律。` (I am a self-disciplined employee and always abide by company discipline.)
• Mistake 2: Using `自律` for a single act of willpower.
  • `自律` describes a consistent state or a long-term habit, not a one-time decision.
  • Incorrect: `我今天很自律，我没吃那块蛋糕。` (Today I was very self-disciplined, I didn't eat that piece of cake.)
  • Analysis: This sounds unnatural in Chinese. It's better to describe the action directly.
  • Better: `我今天控制住了自己，没吃那块蛋糕。` (Today I controlled myself and didn't eat that piece of cake.) or `我忍住没吃那块蛋糕。` (I resisted eating that piece of cake.)
  • You would use `自律` to describe the overall diet plan: `为了健康，我必须自律，坚持我的饮食计划。` (For my health, I must be self-disciplined and stick to my diet plan.)

• 纪律 (jìlǜ) - External rules and discipline (from a group or organization); the opposite of zìlǜ's internal nature.
• 毅力 (yìlì) - Perseverance, willpower. A close partner to zìlǜ. 毅力 is the mental fortitude, while 自律 is the structured practice.
• 放纵 (fàngzòng) - Antonym. To indulge, to let oneself go, to lack restraint. The direct opposite of zìlǜ.
• 坚持 (jiānchí) - To persist, to persevere. 自律 is the trait that enables a person to 坚持 their goals day after day.
• 控制 (kòngzhì) - To control. More neutral and general than zìlǜ. You can “control” a machine, but 自律 is specifically about controlling oneself.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - To bear hardship. A cultural value that is seen as virtuous. 自律 is often the tool used to 吃苦 for a better future.
• 修身 (xiūshēn) - Self-cultivation. A core Confucian concept that provides the philosophical foundation for why zìlǜ is considered a virtue.