利己主义 (lì jǐ zhǔ yì) — egoism

Definition

A philosophy/ethics term for the view that self-interest is the basis of moral action — often translated 'egoism.' Frequently paired with its opposite 利他主义 ('altruism').

noun
egoism

Examples

  • 利己主义，。
    Tā de xíng wéi wán quán chū yú lì jǐ zhǔ yì, cóng bù kǎo lǜ bié rén.
    His behavior is driven entirely by egoism; he never considers others.
  • 利己主义。
    Zhé xué kè shàng wǒ men tǎo lùn le lì jǐ zhǔ yì hé lì tā zhǔ yì de qū bié.
    In philosophy class we discussed the difference between egoism and altruism.
  • 利己主义，。
    lì jǐ zhǔ yì Zuò wéi yì zhǒng lún lǐ xué shuō, qiáng diào gè rén lì yì zhì shàng.
    Egoism, as an ethical theory, emphasizes the primacy of self-interest.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

利己benefit self
利lìbenefit己jǐself
动宾Verb + object
主义doctrine
主zhǔprincipal义yìprinciple
联合Side by side

利 (benefit) and 己 (self) form 'benefit self', while 主义 names the doctrine.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The 己 shape is a picture of a silk rope used to bind objects.

Open 己 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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