自求多福

Chinese
 
from; self; oneself
from; self; oneself; since
 
to seek; to look for; to request
to seek; to look for; to request; to demand; to beseech
 
many; much; a lot of
many; much; a lot of; numerous; multi-
 
good fortune; happiness; luck
good fortune; happiness; luck; Fujian province (abbrev.); surname
trad. (自求多福) 自 求 多 福
simp. #(自求多福) 自 求 多 福

Etymology

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 235 (《詩經·大雅·文王》):

無念爾祖，聿脩厥德。
永言配命，自求多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
无念尔祖，聿脩厥德。
永言配命，自求多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wú niàn ěr zǔ, yù xiū jué dé.
Yǒng yán pèi mìng, zì qiú duō fú. [Pinyin]
Ever think of your ancestor, Cultivating your virtue,
Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]. So shall you be seeking for much happiness.

Pronunciation

Idiom

自求多福

  1. to seek well-being or welfare using one's own abilities
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