自以为是

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zì yǐ wéi shì
• English Translation: To be self-righteous, conceited, and dogmatic
• Idiom Composition: 「自」（oneself）＋「以」（to regard as）＋「为」（to be）＋「是」（correct）
• Meaning: Describes someone who believes their own opinions and judgments are always correct and refuses to listen to others' advice or opinions. It is often used in a critical context with a negative connotation.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「自以为是」 contains the following nuances:

• Self-centeredness: Shows an attitude of believing one's own thoughts and judgments are absolutely correct, disregarding or ignoring others' opinions.
• Dogmatism: Represents an attitude of imposing one's own values and standards on others and refusing to accept differing opinions or ideas.
• Stubbornness: Indicates a lack of flexibility, refusing to change one's decided thoughts or policies.
• Overconfidence: Implies overestimating one's abilities or knowledge and being unaware of the gap with reality.

3. Usage

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

• Criticism and blame: Used to criticize people who refuse to listen to others' opinions or who display dogmatic attitudes.
  • Example:「他总是自以为是，从来不听别人的意见。」
    （He is always self-righteous and never listens to others' opinions.）
• Pointing out problems: Used to point out problems or failures caused by self-righteous thinking.
  • Example:「他自以为是地做出了错误的决策，给公司带来了巨大损失。」
    （He made a wrong decision out of self-righteousness, causing huge losses to the company.）
• Describing personality: Sometimes used to describe a personality that is arrogant and stubbornly clings to their own ideas.
  • Example:「她是一个自以为是的人，很难与她合作。」
    （She is a self-righteous person, making it difficult to work with her.）

Additional Examples:

1. 你不能总是自以为是，要学会倾听他人的声音。
   （You can't always be self-righteous; you should learn to listen to others.）
2. 在团队合作中，自以为是的态度会阻碍有效的沟通和协作。
   （In teamwork, a self-righteous attitude hinders effective communication and collaboration.）
3. 尽管大家都反对，他还是自以为是地坚持自己的计划。
   （Despite everyone's opposition, he self-righteously insisted on his own plan.）
4. 这种自以为是的想法，最终导致了他的失败。
   （This kind of self-righteous thinking ultimately led to his failure.）
5. 我们应该避免自以为是，虚心听取不同的意见。
   （We should avoid being self-righteous and humbly listen to different opinions.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Emphasis on humility: In traditional Chinese culture, especially Confucianism, humility is regarded as an important virtue, and overestimating oneself is discouraged. The idiom '自以为是' carries a negative connotation reflecting this cultural background.
• Expression of self-criticism: '自以为是' is not only used to criticize others but can also be used for self-reflection, when reviewing and reflecting on one's past actions.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 自高自大 (zì gāo zì dà): To be conceited and arrogant, overestimating oneself and looking down on others.
  • 目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén): To be arrogant and disregard others, behaving as if only oneself is superior.
  • 刚愎自用 (gāng bì zì yòng): Stubborn and unwilling to listen to others; clinging to one's own ideas and completely rejecting others' opinions or advice.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ): To be open-minded and magnanimous; having a broad mind and able to accept any opinion.
  • 从善如流 (cóng shàn rú liú): To readily accept good advice; showing an attitude of honestly accepting correct opinions or good suggestions.
  • 谦逊有礼 (qiānxùn yǒu lǐ): To be humble and polite; modest, courteous, and respectful towards others.

6. Summary

'自以为是' is an idiom with a negative meaning that contrasts with the traditional Chinese value of humility. When using this term, it is important to be mindful of the context and situation to avoid offending others. Additionally, it is essential to listen to others' opinions and practice self-reflection to avoid falling into the trap of being self-righteous.