Settle down
Significado: To stop living a wild or carefree lifestyle and commit to a stable relationship, family, or home life.
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: family pressure, life milestones, dating
Tono: neutral, sometimes pressuring
✓ Correcto
- 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?
✗ Incorrecto
- 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
Origen e historia
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.
Contexto cultural
Era: Traditional
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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