私 (sī) - private & personal

私Tone 1

sī ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 禾

树檀

私 · sī

private;

personal;

selfish;

secret;

illicit;

unofficial

privatepersonalselfish

Usage highlights

privateselfishpersonalprivacyprivate schoolprivate enterprise

Synonyms

  • 个人— individual, personal
  • 私人— private, personal
  • 私自— privately, without authorization

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This is my private property (私人财产).
  • We need to protect personal privacy (个人隐私).
  • He has selfish motives (自私的动机).
  • This is a secret agreement (私下协议).

Collocations

  • private(私人)
  • selfish(自私)
  • personal(个人)
  • privacy(隐私)
  • private school(私立学校)
  • private enterprise(私营企业)

Idioms

  • Selfish and self-interested(自私自利)
  • To bend the law for personal gain(徇私枉法)
  • To seek personal gain at public expense(假公济私)
  • To have no selfish motives(大公无私)
  • To harbor selfish thoughts(心怀私念)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian ethics, '私' (selfishness) is often contrasted with '公' (public good), with the latter being highly valued.
  • The character reflects traditional Chinese emphasis on collective welfare over individual interests.
  • In modern contexts, '私' has gained more positive connotations with concepts like privacy and private property rights.

FAQ