自立

The term refers to the ability to function or exist without external support. In a human context, it encompasses both financial independence (earning one's own living) and psychological independence (making one's own decisions and taking responsibility without relying on others).

It is important to distinguish "自立" (jiritsu) from "独立" (dokuritsu). While "独立" often implies a formal separation or breaking away from a larger entity—such as a colony gaining independence from an empire or a business spinning off from a parent company—"自立" focuses on the internal capacity and state of being self-sufficient. "自立" is more about the "strength to stand on one's own feet" rather than the act of "separating."

In a physical sense, it describes an object's ability to remain upright without leaning against something else. This is frequently used in product descriptions for items like mirrors, signs, or stationery that are "self-standing."