独立自主

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dú lì zì zhǔ
• English Translation: Independent and autonomous
• Idiom Composition: 「独」（Alone or independently）＋「立」（To stand or be established）＋「自」（Self or by oneself）＋「主」（To master or take charge of decisions）
• Meaning: To stand on one's own and make decisions for oneself without being controlled by or dependent on others.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「独立自主」 contains the following nuances:

• Exclusion of External Interference: As indicated by 独立 (dú lì), it refers to a state of not being under the control or dominance of others.
• Exercise of Self-Determination: As indicated by 自主 (zì zhǔ), it emphasizes the initiative to decide one's own path, policies, or actions.
• Mental and Practical Self-Sufficiency: It includes not just physical separation, but also being mentally and economically self-sufficient without leaning on others.

3. Usage

「独立自主」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• National, Diplomatic, and Political: This is the most formal and frequent context. It describes a nation's diplomatic policy or political stance of maintaining sovereignty without external interference.
  • Example:「该国始终坚持独立自主的外交政策，不依附于任何大国。」
    （The country has always maintained an independent and autonomous foreign policy, refusing to be a satellite of any major power.）
• Personal Growth and Education: Used to praise children or young adults for leaving their parents' care or becoming mentally and financially self-reliant.
  • Example:「父母应该从小培养孩子独立自主的能力。」
    （Parents should cultivate their children's ability to be independent and self-reliant from a young age.）
• Organizational Management and Business: Describes a company or team that makes its own business decisions rather than simply following the orders of a parent company or external investors.
  • Example:「这家子公司虽然隶属于集团，但在经营上享有独立自主权。」
    （Although this subsidiary belongs to the group, it enjoys independent decision-making power in its operations.）

Additional Examples:

1. 我们要建设一个独立自主、繁荣富强的国家。
   （We must build an independent, prosperous, and powerful nation.）
2. 他在大学期间就开始打工，经济上完全独立自主了。
   （He started working part-time in college and has become completely financially independent.）
3. 遇到问题时，我们要学会独立自主地思考，而不是盲目跟风。
   （When facing problems, we must learn to think independently rather than blindly following trends.）
4. 研发团队坚持独立自主，终于攻克了这项核心技术。
   （The R&D team insisted on self-reliance and finally mastered this core technology.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In modern Chinese history, this term is a cornerstone of diplomatic principles, such as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (和平共处五项原则), signaling a firm stance against foreign interference.
• In contemporary society, it is highly valued as a personal trait in education and career development, encouraging individuals to be self-sufficient and avoid becoming a 啃老族 (kěn lǎo zú), or someone who relies on their parents for financial support well into adulthood.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng): Regeneration through one's own efforts; to achieve success without relying on outside help.link
  • 独当一面 (dú dāng yí miàn): To be able to handle a situation or a specific area of responsibility entirely on one's own.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 寄人篱下 (jì rén lí xià): To live under someone else's roof; to live a life of dependency on others.
  • 仰人鼻息 (yǎng rén bí xī): To depend on the whims of others; to be at someone's beck and call.
  • 听天由命 (tīng tiān yóu mìng): To resign oneself to fate.link
  • 任人宰割 (rèn rén zǎi gē): To be at the mercy of others.link

6. Summary

独立自主 (dú lì zì zhǔ) is a positive idiom describing a state of independence and self-determination. While frequently used in political and diplomatic contexts to emphasize national sovereignty, it is also widely applied to individuals to praise their self-reliance and initiative.