Word
自立
Meaning in Englishindependence, self-reliance
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 自立 mean? Independence or self-reliance; the state of being able to live, act, and decide without constant assistance from others.
Main meanings
- personal independence in daily life and finances
- taking responsibility for one's decisions and life path
- self-determination in education, career, and relationships
- psychological nuance of confidence, resilience, and agency
How to use it
Used in formal policy, education, social services, and personal development contexts. Common phrases include 自立する, 自立心, 自立生活; in family contexts it can denote moving toward independence from parents, while in professional settings it signals taking responsibility for one’s career
Variants and close terms
- 独立 — dokuritsu, independence
- 自主 — jishu, autonomy
- 自力 — jiriki, by one’s own power
- 依存 — izon, dependence
Composition
- 自 (ji) — self, one's own
- 立 (ritsu, tatsu) — to stand; to rise; to establish
- Combination — standing up by oneself, implying self-reliance and the ability to sustain one’s life without ongoing external help
Origin
Meiji period onward, as Japan modernized, 自立 entered common usage to describe personal independence from family and established institutions, later broadening to work and social autonomy.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
公立
kouritsu
public institution
N1
孤立
koritsu
isolation, helplessness
N1
逆立ち
sakadachi
handstand, headstand
N1
自我
jiga
self, ego
N1
自覚
jikaku
self-conscious
N1
独自
dokuji
original, peculiar, characteristic
N1
取り立てる
toritateru
to collect, to extort
N1
成り立つ
naritatsu
to consist of; to be practical (logical, feasible, viable), to be concluded, to hold true
N1
自ずから
onozukara
naturally, as a matter of course
Kanji