自尊心(じそんしん)

じそんしん
noun
self-respect, pride, self-esteem
emotion
1. self-respect, pride, self-esteem
A person's sense of their own worth and dignity. Can refer to healthy self-respect or to excessive pride that makes someone difficult to deal with.
自尊心(じそんしん)が傷(きず)ついた。
My pride was hurt.
自尊心(じそんしん)が高(たか)い人(ひと)は謝(あやま)るのが苦手(にがて)だ。
People with high pride find it hard to apologize.
子(こ)どもの自尊心(じそんしん)を育(はぐく)むことは教育(きょういく)において大切(たいせつ)だ。
Nurturing children's self-esteem is important in education.

Usage

自尊心(じそんしん) can be either positive (healthy self-respect) or negative (excessive pride). Context determines the nuance. 自尊心(じそんしん)が高(たか)い (having high self-esteem) can mean either confident and self-assured, or arrogant and unable to accept criticism.

Similar words

  • プライド: pride (loanword, similar meaning, slightly more casual)
  • 誇(ほこ)り: pride in one's identity, heritage, or achievements
  • 自尊心(じそんしん): specifically about one's sense of self-worth and dignity

Common collocations

Related Words

Synonym: プライド (casual loanword)
Synonym: 誇(ほこ)り (pride in achievements)
Related: 虚栄心(きょえいしん) (vanity)
Compare: 承認欲求(しょうにんよっきゅう) (need for approval)
general
Added 2026.2.13 14:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11000/11076_jisonshin