How do you use "Settle down" in a sentence?

My mom keeps asking when I'm going to settle down and give her grandkids. He used to party every weekend, but he met someone and finally settled down. I'm not ready to settle down yet — I still want to travel and figure things out.

Settle down

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common informal

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Meaning: To stop living a wild or carefree lifestyle and commit to a stable relationship, family, or home life.

不再过放纵或无拘无束的生活，安定下来投入稳定的感情、家庭或居家生活。

Dejar de vivir una vida alocada o despreocupada y comprometerse con una relación estable, una familia o una vida hogareña.

奔放で自由な生活をやめて、安定した交際、家庭、暮らしに落ち着くこと。

자유롭고 방랑하는 생활을 그만두고 안정적인 연애, 가정, 정착 생활에 전념하는 것.

Settling down means transitioning from a single, adventurous, or unsettled phase of life into stability — usually involving marriage, buying a house, or starting a family. Older relatives love asking young Americans 'When are you going to settle down?' which can feel like pressure. Some people embrace it; others resist the concept entirely.

安定下来是指从单身、冒险或不稳定的人生阶段过渡到稳定状态——通常涉及结婚、买房或组建家庭。美国的长辈们最喜欢问年轻人'你什么时候安定下来？'这话听起来可能像是一种施压。有些人欣然接受；有些人则完全抗拒这个概念。

Sentar la cabeza significa pasar de una fase soltera, aventurera o inestable de la vida a la estabilidad — normalmente casarse, comprar una casa o formar una familia. A los parientes mayores les encanta preguntar a los jóvenes estadounidenses 'When are you going to settle down?' lo cual puede sentirse como presión. Algunas personas lo abrazan; otras rechazan el concepto por completo.

「Settle down」は独身で冒険的、または不安定な時期から安定した生活への移行を意味し、通常は結婚、家の購入、子育ての開始を伴う。アメリカでは年配の親戚が若者に「いつ落ち着くの？」と聞くのが定番で、プレッシャーに感じることも。受け入れる人もいれば、そのコンセプト自体を拒否する人もいる。

정착한다는 것은 싱글이고 모험적이거나 불안정한 인생 단계에서 안정기로 전환하는 것을 의미한다 — 보통 결혼, 집 구매, 또는 가정을 꾸리는 것이 포함된다. 나이 든 친척들은 젊은 미국인에게 '언제 정착할 거니?'라고 묻기를 좋아하는데, 이는 압박으로 느껴질 수 있다. 어떤 사람은 이를 받아들이고, 어떤 사람은 이 개념 자체를 거부한다.

Examples

My mom keeps asking when I'm going to settle down and give her grandkids.
我妈一直问我什么时候安定下来给她生孙子。
Mi madre no para de preguntarme cuándo voy a sentar la cabeza y darle nietos.
お母さんがいつ落ち着いて孫を産んでくれるのかってずっと聞いてくるの。
엄마가 언제 정착해서 손주를 줄 거냐고 계속 물어봐.
He used to party every weekend, but he met someone and finally settled down.
他以前每个周末都在玩，但遇到了一个人之后终于安定下来了。
Solía salir de fiesta todos los fines de semana, pero conoció a alguien y por fin sentó la cabeza.
毎週末パーティーしてたけど、いい人に出会ってやっと落ち着いたよ。
매주 주말마다 놀러 다녔는데 좋은 사람을 만나서 드디어 정착했어.
I'm not ready to settle down yet — I still want to travel and figure things out.
我还没准备好安定——我还想去旅行，想找找方向。
Todavía no estoy preparada para sentar la cabeza — aún quiero viajar y aclararme.
まだ落ち着く気はないの——まだ旅行したいし、自分探しもしたい。
아직 정착할 준비가 안 됐어 — 여행도 하고 이것저것 알아보고 싶어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: family pressure, life milestones, dating

Tone: neutral, sometimes pressuring

✓ Do Say

He finally settled down in his 30s.
他三十多岁终于安定下来了。
Por fin sentó la cabeza a los treinta.
彼は30代でやっと落ち着いたよ。
그는 30대에 드디어 정착했어.
When are you going to settle down?
你什么时候安定下来？
¿Cuándo vas a sentar la cabeza?
いつ落ち着くの？
언제 정착할 거야?

✗ Don't Say

Asking single people 'when are you going to settle down?' can come across as judgmental
问单身的人'你什么时候安定下来？'可能会让人觉得你在评判他们
Preguntar a personas solteras 'cuándo vas a sentar la cabeza' puede sonar a juicio de valor
独身の人に「いつ落ち着くの？」と聞くのは、お節介で批判的に聞こえることがある
싱글인 사람에게 '언제 정착할 거야?'라고 묻는 것은 비판적으로 들릴 수 있습니다

Origin & History

Used in English since at least the 1600s, originally meaning to establish a fixed residence. In America, 'settle down' became entwined with the post-WWII suburban ideal of the 1950s — marriage, a house, 2.5 kids. The phrase gained new cultural weight in the 2010s as millennials delayed these milestones, sparking generational debates in publications like The Atlantic and on dating apps where 'looking to settle down' became a common profile signal.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal