自私

• Pinyin: zì sī
• Hanzi breakdown: 自 = 自 (self); 私 = 禾 + 厶 (private/selfish)

Meaning

Selfish; self-centred. Describes a person who prioritises their own interests at the expense of others.

A common negative character assessment in Chinese moral discourse. Contrasts with 无私 (selfless). Used in family, workplace, and social contexts to criticise narrow self-interest.

Examples

1. 他因为过于自私，在团队中渐渐失去了大家的信任。 Because he was too selfish, he gradually lost everyone's trust on the team.
2. 自私的行为不仅损害他人利益，也会最终伤害自己。 Selfish behavior not only harms others' interests, but will ultimately harm you as well.
3. 她意识到自己之前的做法很自私，主动向朋友道了歉。 She realized her earlier actions had been selfish and took the initiative to apologize to her friend.

Usage Guide

Context: morality, social, criticism

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 一个过于自私的人很难在集体中建立真正的合作关系。(A person who is too selfish finds it very hard to build genuine cooperative relationships within a group.)
• 这种只顾自己利益、不顾他人感受的行为实在太自私了。(This kind of behaviour that considers only one's own interests without regard for others' feelings is truly selfish.)

Don't Say

• 自私地帮助别人 — 自私 implies disregard for others, so pairing it with helping others is contradictory; use 有私心地 for self-interested but still helpful acts

Origin & History

自 (self) + 私 (private/selfish) — literally 'for one's own private benefit'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal