Chinese word

自私自利

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì sī zì lì

Meaning

  • idiomselfish

Example

不要总是自私自利。bú yào zǒng shì zì sī zì lì

Do not always be selfish.

Illustration for 自私自利 (selfish)

More examples

团队里如果有人自私自利，工作就很难推进。tuán duì lǐ rú guǒ yǒu rén zì sī zì lì gōng zuò jiù hěn nán tuī jìn

If someone on the team is selfish, it is hard to move the work forward.

Core concept

Treating one's own benefit as the main measure while other people's needs count for little.

Common phrases

  • 自私自利的人zì sī zì lì de rén

    selfish person

  • 自私自利的行为zì sī zì lì de xíng wéi

    selfish behavior

Similar words

损人利己sǔn rén lì jǐ: Seeking personal gain even at the cost of harming other people.
独善其身dú shàn qí shēn: Protecting one's own principles or safety while ignoring other people and the wider group.
见利忘义jiàn lì wàng yì: Letting the lure of profit override loyalty, duty, and moral principles.
利欲熏心lì yù xūn xīn: Being so consumed by the desire for profit that sound judgment and self-control are lost.

Definition in Chinese

只顾自己的利益和感受，不考虑或损害他人或公共利益的性格或行为，含有明显的贬义。zhǐ gù zì jǐ de lì yì hé gǎn shòu bù kǎo lǜ huò sǔn hài tā rén huò gōng gòng lì yì de xìng gé huò xíng wéi hán yǒu míng xiǎn de biǎn yì

Word origin

自私自利 (zìsīzìlì, "selfish and self-serving") is formed from 自私 (zìsī, "selfish") and 自利 (zìlì, "seeking personal benefit"), making its double focus on private advantage easy to recognize.

Usage tips

  • Because it judges a person's motives or conduct, this idiom can sound harsher than a statement about one specific unfair action.

Other meanings

  • self-servingidiom
  • self-centeredidiom

Opposites

  • 公而忘私gōng ér wàng sīput public interests before personal interestsidiom
  • 无私无我wú sī wú wǒwithout selfish motivesidiom

Related words

  • 自私zì sīselfishadjective
  • 利己主义lì jí zhǔ yìselfishnessnoun

Word lists with this word