Definition
自给自足 is a four-character idiom (成语) from classical Chinese, literally 'self-supply, self-sufficient'. It describes the state where a person, community, or country produces all they need without relying on outside resources — economic independence or self-reliance. You use it when talking about a closed-loop system that doesn't depend on imports or external aid. It's a fixed expression; all four characters stay together and the phrase functions as an adjective or noun in the sentence.
f.e.
self-sufficiencyautarkyto be self-sufficient and self-reliant
Examples
- 自给自足，。Zhège shāncūn yìzhí guò zhe zì jǐ zì zú de shēnghuó, jīhū bù hé wàijiè jiāoyì.This mountain village has always lived a self-sufficient life, barely trading with the outside world.
- ，自给自足。Zài kùnnán shíqī, zì jǐ zì zú de jīngjì móshì fǎn'ér gèng yǒu rènxìng.In difficult times, a self-sufficient economic model is actually more resilient.
- 自给自足，、。Gǔdài nóngyè shèhuì zhuīqiú zì jǐ zì zú, měi jiā měi hù zìjǐ zhòng liángshi, zhī bù.Ancient agricultural societies pursued self-sufficiency — every household grew their own grain and wove their own cloth.
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