自 己 中 心(じこちゅうしん)

じこちゅうしん

noun, na-adjective

egocentrism; self-centeredness

1. egocentrism; self-centeredness; selfishness

The tendency to think and act based only on one's own perspective and interests, without considering others. Used both as a psychological term and in everyday criticism of selfish behavior.

彼(かれ)は自己中心(じこちゅうしん)的(てき)な人(ひと)だ。

He is a self-centered person.

自己中心(じこちゅうしん)な考(かんが)え方(かた)では、良(よ)い人間関係(にんげんかんけい)は築(きず)けない。

You cannot build good relationships with a self-centered way of thinking.

子(こ)どもは発達(はったつ)の過程(かてい)で自己中心(じこちゅうしん)的(てき)な段階(だんかい)を経(へ)るが、成長(せいちょう)とともに他者(たしゃ)の視点(してん)を理解(りかい)できるようになる。

Children go through an egocentric stage during development, but as they grow they become able to understand others' perspectives.

Composed of 自己(じこ) (self) and 中心(ちゅうしん) (center). Often used with the suffix 的(てき) to form the na-adjective 自己中心的(じこちゅうしんてき). In casual speech, frequently abbreviated to 自己中(じこちゅう) or even ジコチュー.

Usage

In psychology, refers to the developmental stage where children cannot yet take others' perspectives (Piaget's egocentrism). In everyday Japanese, it simply means selfish or self-absorbed, and is used as a criticism.

Common collocations

自己中心(じこちゅうしん)的(てき)な: self-centered, egocentric
自己中心(じこちゅうしん)な考(かんが)え方(かた): self-centered thinking
自己中心(じこちゅうしん)的(てき)な行動(こうどう): selfish behavior
自己中心(じこちゅうしん)性(せい): egocentricity

Similar words

自己中(じこちゅう): selfish (abbreviation) — the casual, colloquial form; very common among younger speakers
利己的(りこてき): selfish, egoistic — a more literary and formal word for the same concept
わがまま: selfish, willful — focuses on demanding one's own way rather than a general worldview
身勝手(みがって): selfish, self-serving — emphasizes acting for personal convenience without regard for others

Related Words

Compare: 利己的(りこてき) (selfish, egoistic)

Compare: わがまま (selfish, willful)

Compare: 身勝手(みがって) (selfish, self-serving)

Compare: 利己主義(りこしゅぎ) (egoism)

general

Added 2026.4.20 20:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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