自爱
zì'ài
The English phrase 'self-love' is translated into Chinese as 自爱 (zì'ài).
In Chinese, 自爱 is often used to imply maintaining one's dignity or behaving in a way that preserves one's character, rather than just the psychological concept of 'loving oneself'.
Meaning: regard for oneself (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 自 (zì), meaning 'self' and 爱 (ài), meaning 'love'.
Which one should you use?
While 自爱 is a formal noun/verb, the phrase 爱自己 is a more common way to express the action of loving oneself in casual conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 'self-love' can be expressed as 自愛.
How do you pronounce it?
zì'ài
Did you know?
- The character 自 (zì) originally depicted a 'nose' in ancient Chinese scripts, reflecting the habit of pointing to one's own nose when referring to oneself.
- In traditional contexts, 自爱 was often used as a cautionary plea to young women to protect their purity and reputation to avoid social scandal.
- Depending on the tone, saying someone is 太自爱 (tài zì'ài) can be a veiled criticism that they are too preoccupied with their own dignity to be helpful to others.
Examples in context
- 自爱意味着给自己温暖和关怀，通过正面的态度来面对生活中的挑战。Self-love means giving oneself warmth and care and facing life's challenges with a positive attitude.
- 关注自己的内心需求、培养自信并提升个人能力，这些都是自我关爱的重要方面。Paying attention to one's inner needs, building self-confidence, and developing personal skills are all important aspects of self-love.
- 与其沉溺于他人的期望，不如学习李白这样的文人，用自己独特的方式表达对自我的关怀。Instead of getting caught up in others' expectations, it's better to learn from literary figures like Li Bai and express self-care in your own unique way.
- 自爱是非常重要的。Zì'ài shì fēicháng zhòngyào de.Self-love is very important.
- 你应该学会自爱。Nǐ yīnggāi xuéhuì zì'ài.You should learn to love yourself.
- 真正的自爱并不代表自私。Zhēnzhèng de zì'ài bìng bù dàibiǎo zìsī.True self-love does not mean being selfish.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about mental well-being in a cafe.
- 梓涵 Zihan你应该多关注自己的感受，学会自爱。Nǐ yīnggāi duō guānzhù zìjǐ de gǎnshòu, xuéhuì zì'ài.You should pay more attention to your own feelings and learn to love yourself.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我知道，但我最近压力太大了。Wǒ zhīdào, dàn wǒ zuìjìn yālì tài dà le.I know, but I have been under too much pressure lately.
- 梓涵 Zihan压力大时更需要自爱和休息。Yālì dà shí gèng xūyào zì'ài hé xiūxi.When pressure is high, you need self-love and rest even more.
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢你的建议，梓涵。Xièxiè nǐ de jiànyì, Zǐhán.Thank you for the advice, Zihan.
