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adjective / noun HSK 4
sī
private · personal · selfish · secretly

Meaning

私 refers to things that are private, personal, or not public. It contrasts with 公 (gōng, public). It can describe private property, personal matters, or selfish behavior. As an adverb, it means doing something secretly or privately.

Usage

Commonly appears in compounds like 私人 (private/personal) and 自私 (selfish). In formal contexts, it often contrasts with public or official matters. Can carry a slightly negative connotation when implying secrecy or selfishness, but is neutral when simply meaning 'private.'

Examples

  1. 01
    这是我的私人事情，请不要问。
    Zhè shì wǒ de sī rén shì qing, qǐng bù yào wèn.
    This is my private matter, please don't ask.
  2. 02
    他太自私了，从来不为别人着想。
    Tā tài zì sī le, cóng lái bù wèi bié rén zhuó xiǎng.
    He is too selfish and never thinks of others.

Common collocations

  • 私人物品
    sī rén wù pǐn
    personal belongings
  • 私下里
    sī xià li
    in private, privately
  • 走私
    zǒu sī
    to smuggle
  • 大公无私
    dà gōng wú sī
    selfless, impartial

Antonyms

Origin

The character combines 禾 (grain) and 厶 (private). The concept originally related to privately owned grain or property, as opposed to communal or state-owned resources.

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