安分守己
安分守己 (ān fèn shǒu jǐ) literally means “be content and disciplined” and expresses “keep within one's proper bounds”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: an fen shou ji, an fen shou ji,安分守己 meaning, 安分守己 in english
Keep within one's proper bounds
Pronunciation: ān fèn shǒu jǐ Literal meaning: Be content and disciplined
Origin & Usage
Content with (安) one's allotted station (分) and keeping to (守) oneself (己). The phrase has two lives in Chinese and they are not easy to reconcile. As praise it describes an honest person who does their job and causes nobody trouble. As something colder it describes the citizen who does not ask questions, and it has been used approvingly by authorities in exactly that sense for a very long time. Whether it is a compliment depends heavily on who is applying it to whom.
Examples
English: "He always knows to stay within his limits and not overreach."
Chinese: 他总是安分守己，不会过分追求。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
深入浅出
shēn rù qiǎn chū
Explain profound ideas in simple terms
Learn more →
功成身退
gōng chéng shēn tuì
Retire after achieving success
Learn more →
身不由己
shēn bù yóu jǐ
Forced to act against will
Learn more →
人以群分
rén yǐ qún fēn
Like-minded association
Learn more →
守株待兔
shǒu zhū dài tù
Wait passively for luck
Learn more →
抱残守缺
bào cán shǒu quē
Cling to the old and outdated; resist progress
Learn more →
入木三分
rù mù sān fēn
Profoundly penetrating insight
Learn more →
各抒己见
gè shū jǐ jiàn
Everyone freely express their own opinions
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 安分守己 mean in English?
安分守己 (ān fèn shǒu jǐ) literally translates to “Be content and disciplined” and is used to express “Keep within one's proper bounds”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 安分守己 used?
Situation: He always knows to stay within his limits and not overreach.
What is the pinyin for 安分守己?
The pinyin pronunciation for 安分守己 is “ān fèn shǒu jǐ”.