# 寄人篱下

jì rén lí xià

Live dependent on someone else's support

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Lodge beneath another person's fence

**Traditional Chinese:** 寄人籬下

**Register:** Somber · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe uncomfortable dependence on another household or benefactor.

Usually implies limited autonomy, not every friendly visit or shared home.

## Understanding the expression

A fence marks another person's space and rules. Living beneath it places one's security in someone else's hands. The expression often describes lodging with relatives because money or circumstances leave few alternatives. Its emotional weight comes from dependence and reduced freedom, not simply a shared address. A welcoming household may ease that burden, but the phrase usually suggests that the person still feels unable to decide freely.

## Examples

失业后他寄人篱下，连作息都不敢随意安排。

### Traditional Chinese

失業後他寄人籬下，連作息都不敢隨意安排。

shī yè hòu tā jì rén lí xià ， lián zuò xī dōu bù gǎn suí yì ān pái 。

After losing his job, he lived dependently with others and felt unable to set his own routine.

她努力存钱，想结束寄人篱下的生活。

### Traditional Chinese

她努力存錢，想結束寄人籬下的生活。

tā nǔ lì cún qián ， xiǎng jié shù jì rén lí xià de shēng huó 。

She saved hard to stop living dependent on others.

小说里的孩子寄人篱下，总怕给别人添麻烦。

### Traditional Chinese

小說裡的孩子寄人籬下，總怕給別人添麻煩。

xiǎo shuō lǐ de hái zi jì rén lí xià ， zǒng pà gěi bié rén tiān má fán 。

The child in the novel depends on others and always fears being a burden.

借住虽方便，他仍觉得寄人篱下不自在。

### Traditional Chinese

借住雖方便，他仍覺得寄人籬下不自在。

jiè zhù suī fāng biàn ， tā réng jué de jì rén lí xià bú zì zài 。

Staying with others is convenient, but he feels uncomfortable with the dependence.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%AF%84%E4%BA%BA%E7%B1%AC%E4%B8%8B)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=384&webMd=1&la=0)

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