自以为是

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zì yǐ wéi shì
• English Translation: Self-righteous (to think oneself always right)
• Idiom Composition: 「自」（Self or oneself）＋「以为」（To think, consider, or assume (often implying a subjective or mistaken belief)）＋「是」（Correct, right, or proper）
• Meaning: To believe that one's own opinions or actions are always correct while ignoring objective facts or the advice of others. This is a strongly derogatory term used to criticize arrogance, stubbornness, and a narrow-minded refusal to see other perspectives.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「自以为是」 contains the following nuances:

• Subjective Justification: The term 以为 (yǐ wéi) highlights that the 'correctness' is purely in the person's mind. It suggests a gap between their subjective belief of being 是 (shì) (right) and the objective reality.
• Rejection of Others: Because the individual is convinced of their own infallibility, this idiom naturally carries the nuance of looking down on others and dismissing external criticism or feedback.

3. Usage

「自以为是」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Criticizing Personality or Attitude: The most common use is to criticize someone's general character or a specific instance of arrogance. It is a strong expression that can cause offense if said directly to someone.
  • Example:「他总是自以为是，从来听不进别人的建议。」
    （He is always self-righteous and never listens to anyone else's advice.）
• Analyzing the Cause of Failure: Used to point out that a failure occurred because someone was too overconfident or refused to listen to reason.
  • Example:「这次项目的失败，归根结底是因为我们太自以为是了。」
    （The failure of this project was ultimately because we were too opinionated.）
• Self-Reflection or Moral Warning: Often used in a negative construction (e.g., 'don't be...') to encourage humility and open-mindedness.
  • Example:「做人要谦虚，千万不要自以为是。」
    （One should be humble and never be self-righteous.）

Additional Examples:

1. 别那样子自以为是，你也有犯错的时候。
   （Don't be so self-righteous; you make mistakes too.）
2. 那种自以为是的态度让人非常反感。
   （That know-it-all attitude of his makes people very resentful.）
3. 他虽然有才华，但太过自以为是，很难与人合作。
   （Although he is talented, he is too opinionated, making it hard to collaborate with him.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Historical Origins: This expression appears in classical texts such as the Xunzi (荀子) and Mencius (孟子). While it has ancient roots, it remains one of the most frequently used idioms in modern daily conversation to describe personality clashes.
• Social Values: In Chinese culture, 谦虚 (qiān xū) or humility is considered a core virtue. Consequently, being labeled 自以为是 (zì yǐ wéi shì) is a serious social criticism, as it represents the opposite of the ideal cooperative and humble personality. It is strictly distinguished from having healthy 'confidence' (自信).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 刚愎自用 (gāng bì zì yòng): Obstinate and self-opinionated; acting headstrong without listening to others. This is even more formal and critical than 自以为是 (zì yǐ wéi shì).
  • 自作聪明 (zì zuò cōng míng): To be a smart-aleck; to act clever in a way that is actually foolish or unnecessary.
  • 目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén): To be so arrogant as to disregard everyone else.link
  • 恃才傲物 (shì cái ào wù): To be arrogant because of one's talent or ability.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ): To be as open-minded as a valley; to be extremely humble and receptive to others' ideas.
  • 博采众长 (bó cǎi zhòng cháng): To draw on the strengths of many; to widely adopt the best ideas from various sources.
  • 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì): Seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic.link
  • 不耻下问 (bù chǐ xià wèn): Not ashamed to ask and learn from people who are less knowledgeable or of lower status.link

6. Summary

自以为是 (zì yǐ wéi shì) is a negative idiom used to describe someone who is opinionated and self-important. It doesn't just mean having confidence; it implies a 'know-it-all' attitude that dismisses others. It is frequently used to point out character flaws or to explain the root cause of a failure.