How do you use "Self-made" in a sentence?

A self-made millionaire. Claims to be self-made. The self-made man myth.

Self-made

Q: What does "Self-made" mean?

Having achieved success through own efforts Someone who achieved wealth or success through their own work rather than inheritance. Often questioned—how 'self-made' is anyone really?

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Having achieved success through own efforts

通过自身努力取得成功的

Haber logrado el éxito con el propio esfuerzo

自力で成功を収めた

자수성가한

Someone who achieved wealth or success through their own work rather than inheritance. Often questioned—how 'self-made' is anyone really?

通过自身努力而非继承获得财富或成功的人。常常受到质疑——到底有谁是真正'白手起家'的？

Alguien que ha conseguido riqueza o éxito a través de su propio trabajo en lugar de por herencia. A menudo se cuestiona: ¿hasta qué punto alguien es realmente 'hecho a sí mismo'?

遺産ではなく自分の努力で富や成功を達成した人。しばしば疑問視される——本当に「自力」の人はどれだけいるのか。

상속이 아닌 자신의 노력으로 부나 성공을 이룬 사람. 과연 누가 정말로 '자수성가'인지에 대한 의문이 자주 제기된다.

Examples

A self-made millionaire.
白手起家的百万富翁
un millonario hecho a sí mismo
たたき上げの百万長者
자수성가한 백만장자
Claims to be self-made.
自称白手起家
afirma haberse hecho a sí mismo
自力で成功したと主張している
자수성가했다고 주장한다
The self-made man myth.
白手起家的神话
el mito del hombre hecho a sí mismo
たたき上げの神話
자수성가의 신화

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: success stories, criticism

Tone: can be admiring or sceptical

✓ Do Say

Self-made millionaire
白手起家的百万富翁
millonario hecho a sí mismo
たたき上げの百万長者
자수성가한 백만장자
Supposedly self-made
所谓的白手起家
supuestamente hecho a sí mismo
自力で成功したと称している
자수성가했다고 하는

✗ Don't Say

Can ignore inherited advantages
可能忽视了继承来的先天优势
Puede ignorar las ventajas heredadas
受け継いだ優位性を無視する可能性がある
물려받은 이점을 무시할 수 있음

Common Mistakes

Taking claims at face value

Origin & History

American ideal of the person who rises from nothing to success through hard work. Increasingly critiqued as ignoring advantages.

Etymology: Self (own) + made (created)

First recorded: 19th century American

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: About class mobility

Pop culture: American Dream; Business profiles

Regional notes: American ideal, universal usage.

Variations

Self-madeSelf-made man/woman