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自我 (zì wǒ) — self (as a prefix or noun referring to oneself); ego (in psychology)

Definition

自我 (zìwǒ) is a formal, written pronoun used in abstract or psychological contexts (自我, ego, self-awareness). For everyday 'oneself,' use 自己.

pronoun
self (as a prefix or noun referring to oneself)ego (in psychology)

Examples

  • 自我。
    Tā quē fá zì wǒ kòng zhì lì.
    He lacks self-control.
  • 自我。
    Měi gè rén dōu yào yǒu zì wǒ yì shí.
    Everyone needs to have self-awareness.
  • 自我。
    Tā yì zhí zài qiáng diào zì jǐ de zì wǒ.
    He has been emphasizing his ego.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

自zìself
我wǒI

自 and 我 both refer to the person, giving self or ego.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

The glyph 我 originally drew a trident-like weapon. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write the pronoun "I", so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 我 →
Appears in
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