zìsī: 自私 - Selfish, Egocentric

• Keywords: zisi, zìsī, 自私, selfish in Chinese, what does zisi mean, Chinese word for selfish, egocentric, Chinese culture, collectivism vs individualism, Chinese values, HSK 4
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural significance of 自私 (zìsī), the Chinese word for “selfish.” This page explores not just the translation, but why being called `自私` is a particularly strong criticism in Chinese culture. We'll break down the characters, provide practical example sentences, and compare it to Western concepts of individualism to help you understand its deep cultural nuances and use it correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zìsī
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To disregard others and act only for one's own benefit.
• In a Nutshell: `自私` is a direct and powerful word used to describe someone who lacks consideration for others. It's not just about taking care of yourself; it's about prioritizing your own needs and desires at the expense of the group, family, or social harmony. Being labeled `自私` is a serious social criticism in China.

• 自 (zì): This character means “self,” “oneself,” or “from.” It originates from a pictogram of a nose (鼻). In ancient China, people would point to their own nose to refer to themselves, so the character for “nose” came to mean “self.”
• 私 (sī): This character means “private,” “personal,” or “secret.” It's composed of 禾 (hé), meaning “grain,” and 厶 (sī), an ancient character for “private.” You can imagine it as someone hoarding grain for their own private use, not sharing with the community.
• Together: `自 (zì) + 私 (sī)` literally translates to “self-private.” The combination creates a vivid image of a person concerned only with their own private affairs and benefits, perfectly capturing the essence of “selfish.”

In traditional Chinese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, the group (family, community, nation) is paramount. Concepts like 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - collectivism and 和谐 (héxié) - harmony are highly prized. An individual is expected to consider the needs and feelings of others and contribute to the well-being of the group. Therefore, `自私` is not just a personal flaw; it's a violation of fundamental social norms. It implies that a person is failing in their duty to their family, friends, or colleagues. Comparison to Western Individualism: In many Western cultures, particularly American culture, individualism is often valued. “Looking out for number one,” being assertive, and setting personal boundaries are frequently seen as signs of strength and self-respect. While there's a line, actions that might be praised as “assertive” in the West could easily be condemned as `自私` in a Chinese context. For example, if an employee refuses to stay late to help a team finish a project because they have personal plans, a Western manager might respect their work-life balance. A Chinese manager, however, might view this as a `自私` act that shows a lack of commitment to the team and the company. The expectation is to prioritize the collective goal.

`自私` is a common but strong word used in everyday life. It is almost always negative and used as a form of criticism or accusation.

• In Relationships: It's a frequent complaint in arguments between couples or family members. For example, “You only think about yourself, you're so selfish!” (你只考虑自己，太自私了! - Nǐ zhǐ kǎolǜ zìjǐ, tài zìsī le!).
• At Work: An employee who doesn't share resources, hoards information, or refuses to help colleagues might be described as `自私`.
• Social Commentary: The term is often used in news and social media to criticize people who act against the public good for personal gain, such as breaking public health rules or engaging in corruption.

It's important to understand that calling someone `自私` is a direct confrontation and can seriously damage a relationship. It's not a light or casual observation.

• Example 1:
  • 你怎么能这么自私，一点儿都不为别人着想！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme néng zhème zìsī, yīdiǎnr dōu bù wèi biérén zhuóxiǎng!
  • English: How can you be so selfish, not thinking about others at all!
  • Analysis: This is a very common and direct accusation, often used in moments of anger or frustration between people who know each other well.
• Example 2:
  • 他是一个很自私的人，从来不跟同事分享他的工作经验。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè hěn zìsī de rén, cónglái bù gēn tóngshì fēnxiǎng tā de gōngzuò jīngyàn.
  • English: He is a very selfish person; he never shares his work experience with colleagues.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a person's character in a work context. It highlights behavior that goes against the collaborative spirit expected in many Chinese workplaces.
• Example 3:
  • 把最后一块蛋糕吃掉，你是不是有点太自私了？
  • Pinyin: Bǎ zuìhòu yīkuài dàngāo chī diào, nǐ shì bùshì yǒudiǎn tài zìsī le?
  • English: Eating the last piece of cake, aren't you being a bit too selfish?
  • Analysis: A lighter, slightly teasing but still critical use of the word. The phrase `有点 (yǒudiǎn)` softens the accusation a little.
• Example 4:
  • 为了自己的利益而损害集体利益是一种自私的行为。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zìjǐ de lìyì ér sǔnhài jítǐ lìyì shì yīzhǒng zìsī de xíngwéi.
  • English: Damaging the collective interest for the sake of one's own benefit is a type of selfish behavior.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal and abstract usage, suitable for a written report, speech, or official criticism. It connects selfishness directly to the cultural value of collectivism.
• Example 5:
  • 父母不应该教孩子自私，而应该教他们分享。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ bù yìnggāi jiāo háizi zìsī, ér yīnggāi jiāo tāmen fēnxiǎng.
  • English: Parents shouldn't teach children to be selfish; instead, they should teach them to share.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames `自私` as the opposite of the positive value of `分享 (fēnxiǎng) - sharing`.
• Example 6:
  • 我承认我有时候很自私，我会努力改的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn wǒ yǒushíhou hěn zìsī, wǒ huì nǔlì gǎi de.
  • English: I admit that I am sometimes very selfish, and I will try my best to change.
  • Analysis: An example of self-criticism. Admitting one's own selfishness is seen as a sign of sincerity and a willingness to improve.
• Example 7:
  • 他的决定表面上看起来很自私，但其实有他自己的苦衷。
  • Pinyin: Tā de juédìng biǎomiàn shàng kàn qǐlái hěn zìsī, dàn qíshí yǒu tā zìjǐ de kǔzhōng.
  • English: On the surface, his decision seemed very selfish, but actually he had his own unspoken difficulties.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how to contextualize or defend against an accusation of selfishness by suggesting there are hidden reasons for someone's behavior.
• Example 8:
  • 不要把独立和自私混为一谈。
  • Pinyin: Bùyào bǎ dúlì hé zìsī hùnwéiyītán.
  • English: Don't confuse being independent with being selfish.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly addresses a common point of confusion. It's a great example for learners to understand the nuance between a positive trait (`独立` - independence) and a negative one.
• Example 9:
  • 在爱情里，两个人都不应该太自私。
  • Pinyin: Zài àiqíng lǐ, liǎng gè rén dōu bù yìnggāi tài zìsī.
  • English: In a romantic relationship, neither person should be too selfish.
  • Analysis: A common piece of relationship advice, emphasizing that mutual consideration is key to a successful partnership.
• Example 10:
  • 他自私地把所有的功劳都归于自己。
  • Pinyin: Tā zìsī de bǎ suǒyǒu de gōngláo dōu guīyú zìjǐ.
  • English: He selfishly took all the credit for himself.
  • Analysis: Here, `自私地` is used as an adverb to describe how an action was performed. The `地 (de)` particle transforms the adjective into an adverb.

• `自私` vs. `独立` (dúlì - independent): This is the most common pitfall for learners. `独立` is a positive trait meaning self-reliant and able to take care of oneself. `自私` is a negative trait meaning a lack of consideration for others.
  • Correct: 她很独立，一个人生活得很好。(Tā hěn dúlì, yīgè rén shēnghuó dé hěn hǎo.) - “She is very independent and lives well on her own.” (Compliment)
  • Incorrect: 她很自私，一个人生活得很好。(Tā hěn zìsī, yīgè rén shēnghuó dé hěn hǎo.) - This sounds very strange, implying she lives well *because* she selfishly ignores everyone.
• `自私` is not “Self-Care”: In English, “self-care” is a positive concept about protecting one's mental and physical health. While China also has concepts of self-preservation, directly translating “self-care” activities could be misconstrued as `自私` if they come at the expense of clear social or family obligations. For instance, skipping a mandatory family dinner to go to a spa might be seen as `自私`.
• `自私` vs. `自我` (zìwǒ): `自我 (zìwǒ)` means “ego” or “self,” and can be used to describe someone who is very individualistic or has a big ego. It's less of a direct insult than `自私`. Saying “他太自我了 (tā tài zìwǒ le)” means “He's too into himself,” while “他太自私了 (tā tài zìsī le)” means “He's too selfish (and it negatively affects others).”

• 无私 (wúsī) - Selfless; the direct antonym of `自私`.
• 大方 (dàfāng) - Generous; an antonym in the context of sharing and behavior.
• 小气 (xiǎoqì) - Stingy, petty; a specific type of selfish behavior, often related to money or small things.
• 自我中心 (zìwǒ zhōngxīn) - Self-centered, egocentric; a very close synonym for `自私`.
• 利己主义 (lìjǐ zhǔyì) - Egoism, selfishness (as a philosophy); a more formal and academic term than `自私`.
• 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - Collectivism; the cultural value that stands in opposition to selfish behavior.
• 独立 (dúlì) - Independent; a positive trait often confused with `自私` by learners.
• 分享 (fēnxiǎng) - To share; a positive action that is the opposite of selfishly hoarding things.