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HSK 7-9
jiù咎blameyóu由fromzì自selfqǔ取take
To have only oneself to blame; to stew in one's own juice.

Literal meaning

blame (咎) — from (由) — self (自) — take (取)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase meaning that one's misfortune is the result of one's own actions.

Examples

Tā他jīn今tiān天de的xià下chǎng场wán完quán全shì是jiù咎yóu由zì自qǔ取,guài怪bu不de得bié别rén人。
His current situation is entirely his own fault; he can't blame anyone else.
Rú如guǒ果nǐ你bù不tīng听quàn劝gào告,yī一yì意gū孤xíng行,jiāng将lái来shī失bài败le了yě也shì是jiù咎yóu由zì自qǔ取。
If you don't listen to advice and insist on having your own way, you will have only yourself to blame if you fail in the future.

Usage & nuances

Has a strong negative connotation, implying responsibility for one's own misfortune.

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