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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "selfish" in Chinese?
自私
zìsī
In Chinese, "selfish" is 自私.
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Pronunciation
Two syllables: 'dz' (falling tone, like 'dz-uh') and 'suh' (falling tone, like 'suh'), both descending, creating a negative tone.
Writing and usage
Two characters totaling 13 strokes; first means self, second means private or personal, combining to mean self-centered.
Example sentence
他很自私。
He is very selfish.
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How to remember 自私
When you put yourself first and others second, that is selfishness.
Related words
- easy 简 jiǎn
- expensive 贵 guì
- forty-eight 四十八 sì shí bā
- light rain 小雨 xiǎo yǔ
- messy 杂 zá
- old 老 lǎo
- rainstorm 暴风雨 bào fēng yǔ
- seventy-four 七十四 qī shí sì
- thirteen 十三 shí sān
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 自私
How do you say "selfish" in Chinese?
In Chinese, "selfish" is 自私. It is a noun.
How is 自私 written in Chinese?
Two characters totaling 13 strokes; first means self, second means private or personal, combining to mean self-centered.
How is 自私 used in a sentence?
Use 自私 as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: 他很自私。 (He is very selfish.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Selfish" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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