Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Self-interested / Self-serving: Acting primarily for one's own benefit or advantage, often with a disregard for others. It describes a person or action motivated by personal gain.
   • Self-centered / Egoistic: Having one's own interests, needs, or wishes as the primary concern.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hành động đó thật vị thân. (That action is truly self-serving.)
  • Anh ta bị chỉ trích vì thái độ vị thân. (He was criticized for his self-centered attitude.)
  • Không nên có lối sống vị thân. (One should not have a self-interested lifestyle.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in moral or ethical discussions to critique behavior that lacks consideration for the collective good or the interests of others.

Variants and Related Words

• Vị kỷ (adj): Selfish. This is a more common and direct synonym.
  • Tính vị kỷ của hắn thật đáng ghét. (His selfishness is truly detestable.)

Synonyms

• Selfish: Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
• Egoistic: Limited in outlook or concern to one's own activities or needs.
• Self-serving: Having concern for one's own welfare and interests before those of others.

Related Idioms

• While "vị thân" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is conceptually related to the idea of:
  • Lo thân: To look after oneself.

    • Trong hoàn cảnh ấy, ai cũng phải lo thân. (In that situation, everyone has to look after themselves.)