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zì 自 sī 私 zì 自 lì 利

自私自利 zì sī zì lì

selfish; self-seeking

Literally: self selfish self benefit

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Attested in Song dynasty Neo-Confucian discussions of private desire.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; negative. Often 自私自利的人.

Example sentences

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  1. 他很自私自利，只想着自己，从来不帮别人。
    Tā hěn zì sī zì lì, zhǐ xiǎngzhe zìjǐ, cónglái bù bāng biéren.
    He's very selfish, only thinks of himself and never helps others.
    he very self selfish self benefit, only think (particle) self, ever not help others
  2. 自私自利的人很难交到真正的朋友。
    Zì sī zì lì de rén hěn nán jiāodào zhēnzhèng de péngyou.
    Selfish people find it hard to make real friends.
    self selfish self benefit (particle) person very hard make-get real (particle) friend

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