zì bào zì qì: 自暴自弃 - To Give Up on Oneself, Self-Abandonment

• Keywords: zibaoziqi, 自暴自弃, give up on oneself, self-abandonment, abandon hope, throw in the towel, Chinese idiom, chengyu, stop trying, despair, lose heart.
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) 自暴自弃 (zì bào zì qì), which means to give up on oneself or to abandon all hope. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural origins from Mencius, and practical usage in modern China. Understand why it means more than just “giving up” and discover how to use it correctly through numerous example sentences, avoiding common mistakes for English speakers.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zì bào zì qì
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To abandon oneself to despair and stop striving for improvement; to give up on oneself.
• In a Nutshell: 自暴自弃 is a strong, negative term describing the act of completely losing hope and ceasing all effort to better oneself or one's situation. It's not just about giving up on a single task, but about giving up on your own potential and future. Imagine a student who, after failing one exam, decides to stop studying altogether, convinced they are a failure. That is a classic case of 自暴自弃.

• 自 (zì): self, oneself.
• 暴 (bào): to be cruel to, to harm, to injure.
• 自 (zì): self, oneself.
• 弃 (qì): to abandon, to discard, to give up.

The literal meaning is “to be cruel to oneself and to abandon oneself.” The two parts, 自暴 and 自弃, work together to paint a picture of someone who is not only passively giving up but is actively harming their own prospects through neglect and recklessness.

• This term originates from the classic philosophical text *Mencius* (《孟子》). Mencius used “自暴” to describe those who speak against morality and righteousness, and “自弃” for those who believe they are incapable of becoming good people. Together, they formed an idiom representing a profound moral failure.
• In Chinese culture, which is heavily influenced by Confucian values of self-cultivation (修身), perseverance, and taking responsibility for one's life, 自暴自弃 is seen as a serious character flaw. It's not just a personal feeling of depression; it's viewed as an irresponsible rejection of one's potential and duty to oneself, one's family, and society.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, one might say they “feel like giving up” or are “in a slump.” These often imply a temporary state or a response to a specific challenge. 自暴自弃 is much stronger and more permanent. It's closer to “throwing one's life away” or “self-sabotage,” but with a deeper cultural layer of moral disappointment. It's abandoning the fundamental project of becoming a better person.

• Connotation: Overwhelmingly negative. It is used to criticize, warn, or express deep disappointment.
• Formality: Used in both formal and informal contexts. You can hear it from a concerned parent, a teacher, a friend, or read it in a formal article about overcoming adversity.
• Primary Usage (Warning/Admonishment): The most common use is to tell someone *not* to give up on themselves. For example: “虽然你失败了，但你不能自暴自弃。” (Even though you failed, you can't give up on yourself.)
• Informal Self-Deprecation: Among friends, it can be used in a slightly humorous, exaggerated way. For example, after binge-watching a TV show all night instead of studying, one might say, “我昨天真是自暴自弃了，一口气看了十集。” (I really let myself go yesterday, I binge-watched ten episodes in one go.) This use minimizes the term's severity for comedic effect.

• Example 1:
  • 考试失败后，他开始自暴自弃，整天玩游戏。
  • Pinyin: Kǎoshì shībài hòu, tā kāishǐ zì bào zì qì, zhěng tiān wán yóuxì.
  • English: After failing the exam, he started to give up on himself, playing video games all day.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example showing a cause (failing an exam) leading to the negative behavior of 自暴自弃.
• Example 2:
  • 父母最担心的就是孩子遇到一点挫折就自暴自弃。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zuì dānxīn de jiùshì háizi yùdào yīdiǎn cuòzhé jiù zì bào zì qì.
  • English: What parents worry about most is that their children will give up on themselves after encountering a small setback.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a common parental fear and the cultural value placed on resilience.
• Example 3:
  • 你还年轻，有无限的可能，千万不要自暴自弃！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ hái niánqīng, yǒu wúxiàn de kěnéng, qiānwàn bùyào zì bào zì qì!
  • English: You are still young and have limitless possibilities, you absolutely must not give up on yourself!
  • Analysis: This is a powerful sentence of encouragement, often used to motivate someone who is feeling hopeless. The phrase “千万不要” (qiānwàn bùyào) strongly emphasizes the warning.
• Example 4:
  • 失去了工作并不可怕，可怕的是从此自暴自弃。
  • Pinyin: Shīqùle gōngzuò bìng bù kěpà, kěpà de shì cóngcǐ zì bào zì qì.
  • English: Losing a job isn't what's scary; what's scary is giving up on yourself from that point on.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure “并不可怕，可怕的是…” is common for emphasizing that the reaction to a problem is more important than the problem itself.
• Example 5:
  • 他的公司倒闭了，但他没有自暴自弃，而是选择了重新创业。
  • Pinyin: Tā de gōngsī dǎobì le, dàn tā méiyǒu zì bào zì qì, érshì xuǎnzéle chóngxīn chuàngyè.
  • English: His company went bankrupt, but he didn't give up on himself; instead, he chose to start a new business.
  • Analysis: This shows the opposite of 自暴自弃, highlighting resilience and a proactive spirit.
• Example 6:
  • (Informal, humorous) 减肥太难了，我决定自暴自弃，先吃个冰淇淋再说。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnféi tài nán le, wǒ juédìng zì bào zì qì, xiān chī ge bīngqílín zàishuō.
  • English: Losing weight is too hard. I've decided to give up and just eat some ice cream for now.
  • Analysis: This is the lighthearted, self-deprecating usage. The speaker doesn't actually mean they are abandoning all hope in life, just in their diet for that moment.
• Example 7:
  • 任何人都不应该因为身体的残疾而自暴自弃。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé rén dōu bù yìnggāi yīnwèi shēntǐ de cánjí ér zì bào zì qì.
  • English: No one should give up on themselves because of a physical disability.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal, socially conscious usage, often found in inspirational articles or public service announcements.
• Example 8:
  • 如果你继续这样自暴自弃下去，谁也帮不了你。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ jìxù zhèyàng zì bào zì qì xiàqù, shéi yě bāng bùliǎo nǐ.
  • English: If you continue to give up on yourself like this, nobody will be able to help you.
  • Analysis: This sentence serves as a stern warning about the consequences of this behavior, emphasizing personal responsibility.
• Example 9:
  • 看到曾经的对手如今自暴自弃的样子，他心里很不是滋味。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào céngjīng de duìshǒu rújīn zì bào zì qì de yàngzi, tā xīnli hěn bùshì zīwèi.
  • English: Seeing his former rival in a state of self-abandonment, he felt very mixed emotions.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the term used to describe the state or appearance (“…的样子”) of another person.
• Example 10:
  • 为什么有些天才少年长大后会自暴自弃，最终变得平庸？
  • Pinyin: Wèishéme yǒuxiē tiāncái shàonián zhǎng dà hòu huì zì bào zì qì, zuìzhōng biàndé píngyōng?
  • English: Why do some child prodigies give up on themselves after growing up and ultimately become mediocre?
  • Analysis: This poses a question for discussion, often found in articles about psychology, education, or sociology.

• Not the Same as “To Give Up” (放弃):
  • A common mistake for learners is to use 自暴自弃 when they just mean to give up a specific task.
  • 放弃 (fàngqì) means to give up a concrete thing: a goal, an opportunity, a person, a habit. It can be neutral or negative. E.g., “我放弃了这个计划” (I gave up on this plan).
  • 自暴自弃 (zì bào zì qì) is to give up on oneself. It's a much broader, more serious, and always negative concept.
  • Incorrect: ~~我自暴自弃了今天的作业。~~ (I self-abandoned today's homework.)
  • Correct: 我放弃了今天的作业。 (I gave up on today's homework.)
  • Correct: 因为作业太难，他开始自暴自弃，什么都不想学了。 (Because the homework was too hard, he started to give up on himself and didn't want to learn anything anymore.)
• It Implies a Preceding Setback: This behavior doesn't happen in a vacuum. It is almost always a reaction to failure, disappointment, or a difficult situation. It is the act of letting that setback define you and destroy your motivation.

• 放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up (a task, a goal). A more specific and neutral term. 自暴自弃 is to give up on the self, while 放弃 is to give up on a thing.
• 破罐子破摔 (pò guànzi pò shuāi) - Lit. “a cracked pot is smashed to pieces.” A very close synonym meaning to act recklessly since things are already bad, showing a complete disregard for the consequences.
• 灰心 (huīxīn) - To lose heart; to be discouraged. This is often the feeling that leads to the action of 自暴自弃.
• 气馁 (qìněi) - To be disheartened; discouraged. Similar to 灰心.
• 一蹶不振 (yī jué bù zhèn) - To collapse after one setback and be unable to recover. Describes the state of someone who might be 自暴自弃.
• 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè) - To persevere relentlessly. A direct antonym.
• 奋发图强 (fènfā túqiáng) - To work with a will to make things strong; to strive for progress. A powerful antonym focused on positive action.
• 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò) - To muddle along; to get by however one can. Describes a passive indifference, whereas 自暴自弃 often implies a more active, sometimes reckless, abandonment of self.