Self-care
Meaning: Deliberate activities done to maintain your mental, emotional, or physical health.
Self-care became a millennial mantra covering everything from bubble baths and face masks to therapy and setting boundaries. While it has legitimate wellness roots, it's also used humorously to justify indulgences — buying shoes as 'retail therapy' or eating ice cream for dinner as 'self-care.'
Examples
- I'm not going out tonight — I need a self-care evening with a face mask and Netflix. 今晚我不出去了——我需要一个敷面膜看 Netflix 的自我关爱之夜。Esta noche no salgo — necesito una noche de autocuidado con mascarilla facial y Netflix.今夜は出かけない——フェイスマスクとNetflixでセルフケアの夜にする。오늘 밤은 안 나갈 거야——페이스마스크하고 넷플릭스 보면서 셀프케어 저녁 할 거야.
- She took a mental health day. Self-care is important. 她请了一天心理健康假。自我关爱很重要。Se tomó un día de salud mental. El autocuidado es importante.彼女はメンタルヘルスのために休みを取った。セルフケアは大事だよ。걔는 정신건강을 위해 하루 쉬었어. 셀프케어는 중요해.
- Buying this expensive candle? It's self-care, I deserve it. 买这个昂贵的蜡烛?这是自我关爱,我值得。¿Comprar esta vela cara? Es autocuidado, me lo merezco.この高いキャンドルを買う?セルフケアだよ、自分へのご褒美。이 비싼 캔들 사는 거? 셀프케어야, 자기한테 주는 선물.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: social media, casual conversation, wellness culture
Tone: nurturing, sometimes ironic
✓ Do Say
- This bath bomb is my self-care tonight.这个浴球就是我今晚的自我关爱。Esta bomba de baño es mi autocuidado de esta noche.このバスボムが今夜のセルフケア。이 배스밤이 오늘 밤 내 셀프케어야.
- Setting boundaries is the ultimate self-care.设立边界才是终极的自我关爱。Poner límites es el autocuidado definitivo.境界線を引くことが究極のセルフケア。경계를 설정하는 것이 궁극의 셀프케어야.
✗ Don't Say
- Using 'self-care' to justify every indulgence dilutes the concept — real self-care sometimes means doing hard things用'自我关爱'来为每一次放纵辩护会稀释这个概念——真正的自我关爱有时候意味着做困难的事Usar 'autocuidado' para justificar cualquier capricho diluye el concepto — el verdadero autocuidado a veces implica hacer cosas difícilesあらゆる贅沢を「セルフケア」で正当化するとその概念が薄まる——本当のセルフケアは時に大変なことをすることでもある'셀프케어'를 모든 탐닉을 정당화하는 데 쓰면 개념이 희석된다——진짜 셀프케어는 가끔 어려운 일을 하는 것이기도 하다
Origin & History
While the concept has roots in medical and civil rights contexts (Audre Lorde wrote about self-care as political warfare), millennials transformed it into a mainstream wellness concept in the 2010s, amplified by Instagram and the wellness industry.
Cultural Context
Era: 2015-present
Generation: Millennials
Social background: Universal
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