英语短语 "stand on one's own two feet" 是一个形象的比喻表达,核心含义是:
字面义:用自己的双脚站立;
引申义:独立生活、自给自足、不依赖他人(强调经济或生活上的自主能力)。
该短语是动词短语,通常用于描述人从“依赖他人”过渡到“自我独立”的状态,常见搭配和语境如下:
主语 + learn to stand on one's own two feet:学习独立(强调过程)
主语 + be able to / can stand on one's own two feet:能够独立(强调结果)
主语 + need to / have to stand on one's own two feet:需要/必须独立(强调必要性)
one's 需替换为形容词性物主代词(my/your/his/her/our/their)或名词所有格(e.g., Mary's),与主语保持一致;
该短语无被动形式(因为“独立”是主动行为);
常用于鼓励、建议或评价他人的独立状态,语境偏口语化但正式场合也可使用。
鼓励独立:It's time for you to stand on your own two feet—you're 25 now!(你该独立了,都25岁了!)
描述成长:After losing his job, he had to learn to stand on his own two feet and find a new career.(失业后,他不得不学会独立,寻找新的职业。)
评价状态:She's been standing on her own two feet since she was 18—no help from her parents.(她从18岁起就自给自足了,没要父母的帮助。)
复数主语:The twins are starting college this year, so they'll have to stand on their own two feet.(这对双胞胎今年上大学,所以他们得独立生活了。)
be independent (of sb./sth.)
fend for oneself
support oneself
总结:这个短语通过“用自己的脚站立”的意象,生动传达了“不依赖他人、自主生存”的含义,是描述“独立”的经典表达,适用于生活、经济或情感等多个层面的独立状态。