Chinese word

自我

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì wǒ

Meaning

  • nounself-awareness

Example

他的自我意识很强，经常在意别人的评价。tā de zì wǒ yì shí hěn qiáng jīng cháng zài yì bié rén de píng jià

He has strong self-awareness and often cares about other people's opinions.

Illustration for 自我 (self-awareness)

More examples

在成长过程中，他学会了平衡自我和他人的需要。zài chéng zhǎng guò chéng zhōng tā xué huì le píng héng zì wǒ hé tā rén de xū yào

As he grew, he learned to balance his sense of self with the needs of others.

Core concept

An inner sense of oneself as a distinct person, including one's traits, feelings, and mental life.

Common phrases

  • 自我意识zì wǒ yì shí

    self-awareness

  • 自我评价zì wǒ píng jià

    self-evaluation

  • 自我控制zì wǒ kòng zhì

    self-control

Similar words

自我意识zì wǒ yì shí: The mental awareness of one's own thoughts, feelings, and personal state.
自尊心zì zūn xīn: A strong concern for preserving one's sense of worth and dignity.
自负zì fù: An inflated belief in one's own abilities or importance.
自私心zì sī xīn: A tendency to give one's own needs and interests priority.

Definition in Chinese

个体对自己存在、特点和心理状态的意识与认识。gè tǐ duì zì jǐ cún zài tè diǎn hé xīn lǐ zhuàng tài de yì shí yǔ rèn shí

Word origin

自 (zì, "self") + 我 (wǒ, "I/me") combine to form 自我 (zìwǒ, "self"), treating the first person as something that can be noticed and understood.

Usage tips

  • The everyday phrase 很自我 (hěn zìwǒ, "very self-focused") often describes a person critically rather than neutrally, so context matters.

Other meanings

  • selfnoun
  • egonoun

Opposites

  • 利他主义lì tā zhǔ yìaltruismnoun
  • 无我wú wǒselflessnessnoun

Related words

  • 自我意识zì wǒ yì shíself-awarenessnoun
  • 自我评价zì wǒ píng jiàself-evaluationnoun
  • 自我控制zì wǒ kòng zhìself-controlnoun

Word lists with this word