📖 Meaning
To settle down somewhere and establish one's life and spiritual purpose. It refers to having both material security—a place to live and work—and a sense of inner fulfillment or spiritual anchoring. The phrase captures the ideal state of being grounded in body and settled in spirit.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Song dynasty Buddhist text 'Jingde Chuandeng Lu' (景德传灯录), compiled by the monk Daoyuan. In one recorded dialogue, a monk asked the master, 'When the student has no ground to stand on, what then?' The master replied, 'Where then will you settle your body and establish your life?' Originally a Buddhist inquiry about spiritual grounding, the phrase later entered common usage to describe having both livelihood and inner purpose.
💡 Example Usage
他在异乡打拼多年，终于有了自己的事业和家庭，算是安身立命了。
After years of striving in a foreign land, he finally built a career and a family, settling into a life of his own.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 安身立命
- Pinyin: ān shēn lì mìng
- Literal Translation: settle, body, establish, destiny
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4