| 自 |
zì shí qí lì | lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom) / fig. to stand on one's own feet / to earn one's own living |
| 自 |
zì | (bound form) self; oneself / from; since / naturally; as a matter of course |
| 食 |
shí | to eat / food / animal feed / eclipse |
| 食 |
sì | to feed (a person or animal) |
| 其 |
qí | his / her / its / their / that / such / it (refers to sth preceding it) |
| 力 |
Lì | surname Li |
| 力 |
lì | power / force / strength / ability / strenuously |