to earn a living or to make a living or to earn your living or to make your living谋生
I never expected to earn a living as an artist.我从来没指望过靠做一个艺术家来谋生。
He earns his living doing all kinds of things.为了谋生他什么都做。
He couldn't make his living as a writer so he returned to teaching.他无法靠写作谋生, 于是回去教书了。