自私自利

zìsī-zìlì

idiom #21,044

Meanings

1 selfish; self-serving
2 caring only about one's own interests

Characters

private; selfish

benefit; profit

Examples

HSK 5

他是一个自私自利的人，从不考虑别人的感受。

Tā shì yígè zìsī-zìlì de rén, cóngbù kǎolǜ biéren de gǎnshòu.

He is a selfish person who never considers other people's feelings.

HSK 7-9

做人不能自私自利，要多为别人着想。

Zuòrén bùnéng zìsī-zìlì, yào duō wèi biéren zhuóxiǎng.

One shouldn't be selfish; one should think more about others.

Tips

memory

The pattern 自X自Y reinforces the meaning through repetition: 自私 (selfish) + 自利 (self-profiting). Both halves emphasize 'self' (自), making the selfishness doubly clear.

Stroke Order

自 zì

私 sī

利 lì