zì jǐ zì zú: 自给自足 - Self-sufficient, Autarkic

• Keywords: ziji zizu, zì jǐ zì zú, 自给自足, self-sufficient in Chinese, autarky meaning, Chinese idiom for independence, self-reliance, Chinese economic policy, homesteading in China, living off the land
• Summary: Learn the Chinese idiom 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú), meaning “self-sufficient” or “autarkic.” This page explores how to use this term to describe everything from a small farm that provides for a family to a nation's goal of economic independence. Discover its deep cultural roots in China's agrarian history, its practical use in modern contexts like business and personal lifestyles, and how it differs from the simple English word “independent.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zì jǐ zì zú
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); can function as an adjective or verb phrase.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be self-sufficient; to provide for oneself with all necessities without relying on outside help.
• In a Nutshell: 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú) paints a picture of complete material independence. Imagine a small homestead that grows its own vegetables, raises its own chickens, and generates its own power—it doesn't need the supermarket. This concept can be scaled up from a person to a family, a community, or even an entire country's economy that produces everything it needs internally. It's about having the resources and production capabilities to sustain oneself.

• 自 (zì): self; oneself; from.
• 给 (jǐ): to supply; to provide. Important Note: In this idiom, this character is pronounced jǐ, not the more common gěi. This reading is associated with the meaning of “supply.”
• 自 (zì): self; oneself.
• 足 (zú): enough; sufficient; ample.

The structure is a classic A-B-A-C pattern: Self-Supply, Self-Sufficient. The characters combine to literally mean “to supply oneself until one has enough for oneself.” This creates a vivid and complete image of a closed-loop system where one's own output meets one's own needs.

自给自足 is a concept deeply embedded in the Chinese psyche, stemming from thousands of years of agrarian civilization. The ideal of the self-sufficient farming household was the bedrock of imperial China's economy and social stability. A family that could produce its own food, cloth, and shelter was considered stable and virtuous. On a national level, this idea has been a recurring theme in Chinese political philosophy. Periods of prosperity were often associated with agricultural surplus and minimal reliance on foreign trade, while dynasties that became too dependent on outsiders were seen as vulnerable. This historical perspective informs modern policy, where goals like “food security” (粮食安全 liángshí ānquán) and technological independence are framed as a national quest for 自给自足. Comparison to Western Concepts: While 自给自足 is similar to the Western ideas of “homesteading,” “off-the-grid living,” or “self-sufficiency,” there's a key difference in scale and connotation.

• Homesteading/Off-the-grid: In the West, these are often individualistic lifestyle choices driven by environmentalism, anti-consumerism, or a desire for personal freedom.
• 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú): In China, while it can describe a personal lifestyle, it carries a much heavier weight when applied to the economy or nation. It's a strategic goal tied to national security, stability, and sovereignty. It's less about a counter-cultural statement and more about a deeply ingrained cultural and political ideal of resilience.

The term is versatile and appears in various contexts, from casual conversation to formal government reports.

• Describing a Lifestyle (Positive): It's often used admiringly to describe someone who has a simple, sustainable life, especially those who move to the countryside.
  • “他们在乡下买了一块地，过着自给自足的生活。” (They bought a piece of land in the countryside and live a self-sufficient life.)
• Economics and Politics (Neutral/Formal): This is a key term in news and policy discussions about supply chains, agriculture, energy, and technology. The goal is to reduce reliance on foreign imports for critical goods.
  • “中国正努力在半导体产业实现自给自足。” (China is striving to achieve self-sufficiency in the semiconductor industry.)
• Describing a Person's Character (Slightly Negative): It can sometimes imply that a person is too independent to the point of being isolated or unwilling to cooperate. It suggests they are a “closed system” who doesn't need or want help from others.
  • “他什么事都自己做，太自给自足了，所以没什么朋友。” (He does everything himself, he's too self-sufficient, so he doesn't have many friends.)

• Example 1:
  • 那个农场实现了自给自足，他们自己种菜，自己养鸡。
  • Pinyin: Nàge nóngchǎng shíxiànle zì jǐ zì zú, tāmen zìjǐ zhòng cài, zìjǐ yǎng jī.
  • English: That farm has achieved self-sufficiency; they grow their own vegetables and raise their own chickens.
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and literal use of the term, describing an agricultural unit that sustains itself.
• Example 2:
  • 我们的目标是，到2030年，国家能源基本实现自给自足。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de mùbiāo shì, dào èr líng sān líng nián, guójiā néngyuán jīběn shíxiàn zì jǐ zì zú.
  • English: Our goal is for the nation's energy to be basically self-sufficient by 2030.
  • Analysis: A formal, political usage. It refers to a strategic national goal, common in official documents and news reports.
• Example 3:
  • 退休后，我希望能有一个小院子，过上自给自足的田园生活。
  • Pinyin: Tuìxiū hòu, wǒ xīwàng néng yǒu yīgè xiǎo yuànzi, guò shàng zì jǐ zì zú de tiányuán shēnghuó.
  • English: After I retire, I hope to have a small yard and live a self-sufficient, pastoral life.
  • Analysis: This expresses a common modern aspiration, romanticizing a simple, sustainable lifestyle. It has a very positive and desirable connotation here.
• Example 4:
  • 这个与世隔绝的村庄，几百年来一直过着自给自足的生活。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yǔ shì géjué de cūnzhuāng, jǐ bǎi nián lái yīzhí guòzhe zì jǐ zì zú de shēnghuó.
  • English: This isolated village has lived a self-sufficient life for hundreds of years.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used to describe a community. The context “isolated” (与世隔绝) emphasizes that their self-sufficiency was born of necessity.
• Example 5:
  • 在经济上自给自足，不依赖任何人，是她最大的心愿。
  • Pinyin: Zài jīngjì shàng zì jǐ zì zú, bù yīlài rènhé rén, shì tā zuìdà de xīnyuàn.
  • English: To be economically self-sufficient and not depend on anyone is her biggest wish.
  • Analysis: This shows the term being applied to personal finances. It means more than just “financially independent”; it implies she can provide for all her needs through her own means.
• Example 6:
  • 一个公司不能完全自给自足，总需要和上下游企业合作。
  • Pinyin: Yīgè gōngsī bùnéng wánquán zì jǐ zì zú, zǒng xūyào hé shàngxiàyóu qǐyè hézuò.
  • English: A company cannot be completely self-sufficient; it always needs to cooperate with upstream and downstream enterprises.
  • Analysis: This example uses the term in a negative construction to make a point about the necessity of interdependence in a modern business ecosystem.
• Example 7:
  • 他的团队就像一个自给自足的小系统，很少需要其他部门的支持。
  • Pinyin: Tā de tuánduì jiù xiàng yīgè zì jǐ zì zú de xiǎo xìtǒng, hěn shǎo xūyào qítā bùmén de zhīchí.
  • English: His team is like a small, self-sufficient system; it rarely needs support from other departments.
  • Analysis: A figurative use in a business context. This could be seen as either a compliment (they are efficient) or a criticism (they don't collaborate well), depending on the tone.
• Example 8:
  • 古代的小农经济特点就是自给自足。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdài de xiǎonóng jīngjì tèdiǎn jiùshì zì jǐ zì zú.
  • English: The main characteristic of the ancient small-peasant economy was self-sufficiency.
  • Analysis: An academic or historical usage, defining a key feature of a past economic model.
• Example 9:
  • 你不能这么自给自足，遇到困难要学会求助。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zhème zì jǐ zì zú, yù dào kùnnán yào xuéhuì qiúzhù.
  • English: You can't be so self-sufficient; you have to learn to ask for help when you encounter difficulties.
  • Analysis: This clearly shows the negative connotation. It's used as a gentle criticism, advising someone to be more open and less insular.
• Example 10:
  • 这个软件的生态系统已经能够自给自足，开发者和用户在其中就能满足所有需求。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de shēngtài xìtǒng yǐjīng nénggòu zì jǐ zì zú, kāifā zhě hé yònghù zài qízhōng jiù néng mǎnzú suǒyǒu xūqiú.
  • English: This software's ecosystem can already sustain itself; developers and users can satisfy all their needs within it.
  • Analysis: A modern, technological application of the term. It describes a platform (like an app store) that has become a complete, self-sustaining world.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with `独立 (dúlì)` - Independent.
  • 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú) refers specifically to material and resource self-sufficiency (food, goods, energy, etc.).
  • 独立 (dúlì) is a much broader term for independence, which can be financial, political, emotional, or intellectual (e.g., independent thinking).
  • Example of Incorrect Usage: `他思想很自给自足。` (Tā sīxiǎng hěn zì jǐ zì zú.) - This is wrong. His thoughts cannot “provide for themselves.”
  • Correct Usage: `他思想很独立。` (Tā sīxiǎng hěn dúlì.) - “He is an independent thinker.”
  • Rule of Thumb: If you can replace “self-sufficient” with “able to produce all its own necessities,” use 自给自足. Otherwise, 独立 is likely the better choice.
• Mistake 2: Pronouncing `给` as `gěi`.
  • In this specific idiom and a few other formal contexts, 给 is pronounced jǐ, meaning “to supply” or “to provide.” Pronouncing it as `zì gěi zì zú` is a common mistake for learners and will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker. Always remember: zì jǐ zì zú.

• 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng) - To rely on one's own efforts; self-reliance. Very similar to 自给自足, but emphasizes the *struggle, effort, and process* of becoming independent, often in the face of adversity. It has a strong political and motivational flavor.
• 独立 (dúlì) - Independent. A broader, more general term. 自给自足 is one specific way of being 独立.
• 自食其力 (zì shí qí lì) - To support oneself by one's own labor (lit. “to eat from one's own strength”). This focuses specifically on earning a living through work, whereas 自给自足 is about a system that provides for all needs (not just through labor for money).
• 丰衣足食 (fēng yī zú shí) - To have ample food and clothing (lit. “abundant clothes, sufficient food”). This describes the positive *result* or state of being successfully 自给自足.
• 小农经济 (xiǎonóng jīngjì) - Small-scale peasant economy. The historical economic model in China that is the classic embodiment of the 自给自足 ideal at the family level.
• 闭关锁国 (bì guān suǒ guó) - To close the country to international intercourse; isolationism. This can be seen as the extreme, negative, and forced application of 自给自足 on a national level, leading to stagnation.
• 靠自己 (kào zìjǐ) - To rely on oneself. A much more colloquial and direct phrase. You might say this in daily conversation, whereas 自给自足 is a more formal and descriptive idiom.