Definition
私 is a bound form (b.f.) — it cannot stand alone as an independent word. Instead it appears as a morpheme in compound words where it contributes the meaning of 'private, personal, selfish, or illegal'. For example: 私人 (private/personal), 自私 (selfish), 私立 (private [school]), 走私 (smuggle, lit. 'walk illegal'). Recognizing 私 helps decode many HSK 6–7 vocabulary items.
b.f.
(bound form) privatepersonal(bound form) selfish(bound form) illegalcontraband
Examples
- ，。Zhè shì wǒ de sī shì, bù fāngbiàn shuō.This is my personal matter, not convenient to talk about.
- ，。Nà ge rén tài zì sī le, cóng bù kǎolǜ biérén.That person is too selfish, never considers others.
- 。Tā sī zì zhànyòng le gōngjiā de chēwèi.He privately occupied a public parking space without permission.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.