自尊心

• Reading: じそんしん
• Romaji: jisonshin
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji) — self; 尊 (son) — respect, honor; 心 (shin) — heart, spirit
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.soɴ.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Self-esteem; self-respect; pride in oneself.

A compound noun combining 自尊 (self-respect) with 心 (heart/spirit). Can be used positively (healthy self-esteem) or negatively (excessive pride). Common expressions include 自尊心が高い (having high self-esteem), 自尊心を傷つける (to hurt someone's pride), and 自尊心が強い (very proud). Frequently appears in psychology and education contexts.

Examples

1. 彼の自尊心を傷つけるような発言は避けたほうがいい。 It's better to avoid saying things that could hurt his pride.
2. 自尊心が低いと、人間関係にも悪い影響が出る。 Low self-esteem can have a negative impact on your relationships too.
3. 失敗しても自尊心を失わないことが大切だ。 It's important not to lose your self-respect even when you fail.

Usage Guide

Context: psychology, education, interpersonal

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 自 (ji, self) + 尊 (son, respect/honor) + 心 (shin, heart/spirit). Literally 'heart of self-respect' — the inner sense of one's own worth.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal