Definition

1. Noun:
   • Excessive or easily wounded pride; oversensitivity about one's own dignity or worth: A state of being overly concerned with one's self-image, leading to quick offense or irritation when one's faults are pointed out or one feels slighted.
   • A sense of self-respect that is too fragile or inflated: An exaggerated love of self, where one's ego is easily bruised.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy có lòng tự ái rất cao. (He has very high/ easily wounded pride.)
  • Đừng động đến lòng tự ái của cô ấy. (Don't touch on her sensitive pride.)
  • Tự ái khiến anh không chấp nhận lời góp ý. (Oversensitivity prevented him from accepting feedback.)

Advanced Usage

• The concept is often used to describe a personality trait where a person cannot tolerate criticism, jokes, or any perceived disrespect, often reacting with defensiveness, anger, or withdrawal.
• It implies a vulnerability and a need to protect an inflated or fragile self-image.

Variants and Related Words

• Tự trọng (n): Self-respect. (This is a positive term for a healthy sense of dignity, distinct from the negative connotation of "tự ái".)
  • Tự trọng là biết xấu hổ khi mắc lỗi. (Self-respect is knowing to be ashamed when making a mistake.)

Synonyms

• Oversensitivity: Excessive sensitivity, especially about oneself.
• Prickly pride: Easily offended pride.
• Touchiness: The quality of being easily upset or offended.
• Amour-propre (from French): Self-esteem, often with a connotation of vanity or sensitivity.

Related Idioms

• Tự ái quốc gia: National pride (can be neutral or negative depending on context, implying overly sensitive or chauvinistic national pride).

  • Hành động đó đã làm tổn thương tự ái quốc gia. (That action wounded national pride.)

• Đụng chạm tự ái: To offend someone's pride; to touch a nerve.

  • Câu nói của anh ta đã đụng chạm đến tự ái của cả nhóm. (His statement offended the pride of the whole group.)