三十而立
- Literal
- at thirty, to stand on one's feet
- Figurative
- By thirty you should have your life in order, with a job, independence and direction of your own; quoted as a yardstick or wryly.
Where does 三十而立 come from?
It comes from the 《论语》, from the passage in which Confucius sums up his life in stages: at fifteen he set his mind on learning, at thirty he stood firm, at forty he no longer had doubts, at fifty he knew the mandate of Heaven… That 立 was not about material things: classical commentators read it as standing firm on one's own in learning and conduct. Today the phrase has become a yardstick: by thirty you are supposed to have a steady job, independence and, for many, a family, which is why it is quoted both earnestly and with irony or dread.
Source (出处): 《论语·为政》
How is 三十而立 used? Two examples
- 都说三十而立，我今年三十了，还在跟人合租。
They say you should be settled by thirty; I turn thirty this year and I'm still sharing an apartment.
- 三十而立不一定是买房结婚，能养活自己就算立住了。
Being settled at thirty doesn't have to mean buying a home and getting married; if you can support yourself, you're on your feet.
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