独立

• Pinyin: dú lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 独 = 犭(animal radical) + 蜀 (phonetic, simplified); 立 = pictograph of a person standing on the ground

Meaning

Independent; to be independent. Not relying on others; self-sufficient.

Used for both personal independence (financially or emotionally self-reliant) and political independence (a nation becoming sovereign). Also used as an adjective for things that are separate or standalone, such as 独立房间 (separate room) or 独立思考 (independent thinking).

Examples

1. 她大学毕业后就开始独立生活了。 She started living independently after graduating from university.
2. 父母希望孩子能学会独立。 Parents hope their children can learn to be independent.
3. 这是一间独立的办公室，不受打扰。 This is a separate office where you won't be disturbed.

Usage Guide

Context: personal growth, society

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 年轻人应该学会独立。(Young people should learn to be independent.)
• 她是一个很独立的人。(She is a very independent person.)

Don't Say

• 用'独立'形容孤独 (Don't use 独立 to mean lonely — 独立 has a positive sense of self-reliance; use 孤独 or 孤单 for loneliness)

Origin & History

Compound of 独 (alone, single) and 立 (to stand). Literally 'to stand alone,' conveying self-reliance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal