chéng成establishjiā家familylì立establishyè业career
To get married and start a career; to settle down.
Literal meaning
establish (成) — family (家) — establish (立) — career (业)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase representing traditional life goals.
Examples
Tā他xiàn现zài在zhǐ只xiǎng想chéng成jiā家lì立yè业。
He just wants to settle down now.
Zài在Zhōng中guó国,chéng成jiā家lì立yè业réng仍rán然shì是xǔ许duō多nián年qīng轻rén人de的mù目biāo标。
In China, getting married and starting a career is still the goal of many young people.
Usage & nuances
Represents a traditional view of success and adulthood.
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