tư kỷ

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Selfish: Primarily thinking of and concerned with one's own personal advantage or pleasure, without regard for others. It describes a mindset or character focused on self-interest.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:
    • Anh ta tính kỷ, không bao giờ nghĩ đến người khác. (He has a selfish character, never thinking of others.)
    • Đừng kỷ như vậy, hãy chia sẻ với mọi người. (Don't be so selfish; share with everyone.)
    • Hành động kỷ của họ đã gây ra nhiều vấn đề. (Their selfish actions caused many problems.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term kỷ is often used in a moral or character-judging context, frequently paired with words like "tính" (nature), "đầu óc" (mindset), or "hành động" (action) to critique someone's behavior or personality.
Variants and Related Words
  • Ích kỷ (adj): Selfish, self-centered. This is a more common and direct synonym for kỷ.
    • Lòng ích kỷ không giúp ích cho tập thể. (Selfishness does not benefit the collective.)
Synonyms
  • Selfish: Concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
  • Self-centered: Interested only in oneself.
  • Egoistic: Thinking only of oneself.
Related Idioms
  • While kỷ itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it relates to the concept expressed in:
    • "Sống chết mặc bay, tiền thầy bỏ túi": A phrase describing a selfish, irresponsible attitude (roughly: "Who cares if people live or die, the money goes into my pocket"). This illustrates the kind of self-interested behavior described by kỷ.