Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Self-reliant: Relying on one's own abilities, resources, and efforts to do things, without depending on the help of others.
   • Independent: Functioning or acting by oneself; autonomous.

2. Adverb (in combination):

   • By one's own efforts: Doing something through one's own power or means.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy là một người rất tự lực từ nhỏ. (He has been a very self-reliant person since childhood.)
  • Tinh thần tự lực là rất quan trọng cho sự phát triển. (A spirit of independence is very important for development.)

• Adverb (implied in phrase):

  • Công ty này được xây dựng hoàn toàn tự lực. (This company was built entirely by our own efforts.)

Advanced Usage

• "tự lực tự cường": A common four-word idiom meaning "self-reliance and self-strengthening," emphasizing building strength and capability through one's own efforts.

  • Dân tộc ta có truyền thống tự lực tự cường. (Our nation has a tradition of self-reliance and self-strengthening.)

• "tự lực cánh sinh": A four-word idiom meaning "to rely solely on one's own strength to make a living" or "to be self-sufficient."

  • Trong hoàn cảnh khó khăn, chúng tôi phải tự lực cánh sinh. (In difficult circumstances, we had to rely solely on our own means.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tự lập (adj): Self-established, independent (often used for living independently or financial independence).

  • Cô ấy bắt đầu cuộc sống tự lập từ năm 18 tuổi. (She began an independent life at age 18.)

• Tự chủ (adj): Autonomous, self-controlled, self-governing.

  • Các trường đại học cần có quyền tự chủ. (Universities need to have autonomy.)

Synonyms

• Self-sufficient: Needing no outside help in satisfying one's basic needs.
• Self-supporting: Financially independent; able to support oneself.
• Autonomous: Having the freedom to act independently.

Related Idioms

• "Tự thân vận động": To move/act by oneself; to be self-motivated and proactive.
  • Muốn thành công thì phải tự thân vận động. (To succeed, one must be proactive and self-motivated.)

adj

1. self-reliant