zìzūn: 自尊 - Self-Esteem, Self-Respect

• Keywords: 自尊, zizun, Chinese self-esteem, Chinese self-respect, what is zizun, 自尊心, zizunxin, Chinese culture, pride in Chinese, dignity in Chinese, face and self-esteem, 伤自尊
• Summary: Learn the deep meaning of 自尊 (zìzūn), the Chinese word for “self-esteem” or “self-respect.” This page explores how 自尊 is fundamentally linked to cultural concepts like dignity and “face” (面子), distinguishing it from Western ideas of self-worth. Discover how to use it in everyday conversation, from encouraging a child to navigating sensitive social situations, and understand why having too much 自尊心 (zìzūnxīn) can sometimes be a negative trait in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zì zūn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A person's sense of their own value or worth; self-esteem, self-respect.
• In a Nutshell: 自尊 (zìzūn) is the quiet, internal feeling of your own inherent dignity and worth. It's not about being loud or arrogant; it's the fundamental belief that you deserve to be treated with respect by yourself and others. In Chinese culture, protecting one's 自尊 is crucial for maintaining social harmony and personal integrity.

• 自 (zì): This character originally depicted a nose. Since people in ancient China often pointed to their own nose to refer to themselves, it came to mean “self,” “oneself,” or “from.”
• 尊 (zūn): This character originally depicted two hands holding a wine vessel, signifying a respectful offering to an elder or a deity. It means “to respect,” “to honor,” or “esteemed.”

When combined, 自尊 (zìzūn) literally means “to respect oneself.” This simple combination beautifully captures the essence of the word: an internal act of honoring your own worth.

While “self-esteem” is a direct translation, 自尊 (zìzūn) carries a different cultural weight than its Western counterpart. In the West, self-esteem is often an individualistic project—built through personal achievements, affirmations, and self-love. It's about feeling good about who you are. In Chinese culture, 自尊 is more relational and tied to the concept of 面子 (miànzi) - face. Your 自尊 is not just about how you see yourself, but also about how you are perceived by your family, colleagues, and community. To “lose face” is to have your social standing diminished, which directly 伤害自尊 (shānghài zìzūn)—harms your self-respect. Consequently, maintaining 自尊 involves acting in a way that is worthy of respect within the social structure. This can mean fulfilling your duties, showing filial piety, and avoiding shameful behavior. An excess of it, often described as 自尊心太强 (zìzūnxīn tài qiáng), or “having too strong a sense of self-respect,” can be viewed negatively. It may imply someone is overly sensitive, “thin-skinned,” unable to take criticism, or puts their own dignity above the harmony of the group. This contrasts with the generally unambiguous positive view of “high self-esteem” in the West.

自尊 is a common word used in various contexts, from parenting to workplace dynamics.

• In Education and Parenting: Teachers and parents often talk about the importance of 培养孩子的自尊 (péiyǎng háizi de zìzūn), “cultivating a child's self-esteem.” The goal is to build a child's confidence without making them arrogant.
• In Social Interactions: People are very careful not to 伤害别人的自尊 (shānghài biérén de zìzūn), “hurt other people's self-esteem.” Giving criticism, for example, is often done indirectly to help the other person save face and protect their 自尊.
• Describing Personality: The term 自尊心 (zìzūnxīn) (literally “self-respect heart”) is frequently used to describe this quality as a personality trait. Someone with a healthy amount is seen as principled, while someone with too much (自尊心太强) is seen as touchy or proud.

• Example 1:
  • 老师的鼓励大大增强了我的自尊。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī de gǔlì dàdà zēngqiángle wǒ de zìzūn.
  • English: The teacher's encouragement greatly boosted my self-esteem.
  • Analysis: A straightforward, positive use of the term, showing how external validation can build 自尊.
• Example 2:
  • 你不应该说那样的话，这很伤自尊。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù yīnggāi shuō nàyàng de huà, zhè hěn shāng zìzūn.
  • English: You shouldn't have said that; it's very hurtful to one's self-esteem.
  • Analysis: A common phrase, 伤自尊 (shāng zìzūn), means “to hurt self-esteem.” This highlights the social aspect of protecting others' feelings.
• Example 3:
  • 他是一个自尊心很强的人，从不向别人求助。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè zìzūnxīn hěn qiáng de rén, cóngbù xiàng biérén qiúzhù.
  • English: He is a person with very strong pride/self-respect and never asks others for help.
  • Analysis: This example shows the slightly negative side. His 自尊心 (zìzūnxīn) is so strong that it makes him overly independent or stubborn.
• Example 4:
  • 即使生活很困难，他也没有丢掉自己的自尊。
  • Pinyin: Jíshǐ shēnghuó hěn kùnnán, tā yě méiyǒu diūdiào zìjǐ de zìzūn.
  • English: Even though life was very difficult, he never lost his self-respect/dignity.
  • Analysis: Here, 自尊 is synonymous with dignity and integrity, a core sense of worth that persists through hardship.
• Example 5:
  • 维护国家自尊是每个公民的责任。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù guójiā zìzūn shì měi gè gōngmín de zérèn.
  • English: Upholding national dignity is the responsibility of every citizen.
  • Analysis: This shows how 自尊 can be scaled up from a personal level to a collective, national level, similar to “national pride.”
• Example 6:
  • 为了自尊，他拒绝了那份带有侮辱性的工作。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zìzūn, tā jùjuéle nà fèn dàiyǒu wǔrǔ xìng de gōngzuò.
  • English: For the sake of his self-respect, he rejected that humiliating job offer.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates 自尊 as a principle that guides major life decisions.
• Example 7:
  • 父母应该教孩子如何建立健康的自尊。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ yīnggāi jiāo háizi rúhé jiànlì jiànkāng de zìzūn.
  • English: Parents should teach children how to build healthy self-esteem.
  • Analysis: A modern, psychological application of the term, very common in discussions about child development.
• Example 8:
  • 他的批评虽然尖锐，但不是为了伤害你的自尊。
  • Pinyin: Tā de pīpíng suīrán jiānruì, dàn bùshì wèile shānghài nǐ de zìzūn.
  • English: Although his criticism was sharp, it wasn't intended to hurt your self-esteem.
  • Analysis: This sentence illustrates the delicate balance in communication—giving feedback without causing someone to lose face.
• Example 9:
  • 过低的自尊会影响一个人的社交能力。
  • Pinyin: Guò dī de zìzūn huì yǐngxiǎng yīgè rén de shèjiāo nénglì.
  • English: Overly low self-esteem can affect a person's social skills.
  • Analysis: This shows the opposite end of the spectrum from 自尊心太强 (zìzūnxīn tài qiáng).
• Example 10:
  • 承认错误需要勇气，但不会损害你的自尊。
  • Pinyin: Chéngrèn cuòwù xūyào yǒngqì, dàn bù huì sǔnhài nǐ de zìzūn.
  • English: Admitting a mistake requires courage, but it won't damage your self-respect.
  • Analysis: This sentence reframes vulnerability, suggesting that true 自尊 is robust enough to handle admitting fault.

• 自尊 (zìzūn) vs. 骄傲 (jiāo'ào): This is a critical distinction.
  • 自尊 (zìzūn) is an internal, quiet sense of dignity and self-worth. It's about respecting yourself.
  • 骄傲 (jiāo'ào) means “proud” or “arrogant.” While it can be positive (e.g., “I'm proud of you”), it often carries a negative connotation of looking down on others. Someone with healthy 自尊 doesn't need to be 骄傲.
  • *Incorrect usage:* 他很自尊 (Tā hěn zìzūn). You can't use “很” (very) to describe 自尊 this way. You would say 他很有自尊 (Tā hěn yǒu zìzūn - He has a lot of self-respect) or 他自尊心很强 (Tā zìzūnxīn hěn qiáng - His sense of self-respect is very strong).
• 自尊 (zìzūn) vs. 自信 (zìxìn):
  • 自尊 (zìzūn) is about your inherent worth (self-worth).
  • 自信 (zìxìn) is about your belief in your abilities (self-confidence).
  • You can be confident in your ability to play basketball (自信) but still have low self-esteem (自尊) if you don't feel you are a person of value.
• “False Friend” Alert: Don't equate 自尊 with the modern Western concepts of “self-love” or “self-care.” 自尊 is less about indulgence or positive self-talk and more about upholding a standard of personal and social dignity.

• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; a crucial concept of social standing, reputation, and honor. Losing 面子 directly damages one's 自尊.
• 自尊心 (zìzūnxīn) - The “heart” or sense of self-respect. Used to describe 自尊 as a personality trait (e.g., a strong or weak 自尊心).
• 尊严 (zūnyán) - Dignity. A more formal and serious term than 自尊, often used in the context of fundamental human rights and profound respect.
• 自信 (zìxìn) - Self-confidence. The belief in one's own abilities, distinct from the belief in one's own worth (自尊).
• 骄傲 (jiāo'ào) - Pride, arrogance. Can be positive (proud of an accomplishment) but is often negative (conceited).
• 谦虚 (qiānxū) - Modesty. A traditional virtue often seen as a counterbalance to excessive pride.
• 伤害 (shānghài) - To hurt, harm, or injure. Very commonly paired with 自尊 as in 伤害自尊.
• 自我价值 (zìwǒ jiàzhí) - Self-worth. A more modern, psychological term that is very close in meaning to the Western concept of self-esteem.