利己主義(りこしゅぎ)

りこしゅぎ
noun
egoism; selfishness; self-interest
cognitionsociety
1. egoism; selfishness; self-centeredness
The attitude or philosophy of prioritizing one's own interests and benefit above those of others. Used both as a philosophical term and in everyday criticism of selfish behavior.
利己主義(りこしゅぎ)は嫌(きら)われる。
Selfishness is disliked.
彼(かれ)の行動(こうどう)は利己主義(りこしゅぎ)に過(す)ぎない。
His behavior is nothing but selfishness.
社会(しゃかい)全体(ぜんたい)の利益(りえき)よりも個人(こじん)の利益(りえき)を優先(ゆうせん)する利己主義(りこしゅぎ)が問題(もんだい)になっている。
Egoism that prioritizes individual benefit over the benefit of society as a whole has become a problem.

A compound of 利己(りこ) (self-interest) and 主義(しゅぎ) (-ism). The term has a strongly negative connotation in Japanese, where group harmony and consideration for others are culturally valued. A person who acts selfishly may be called a 利己主義者(りこしゅぎしゃ) (egoist).

Common collocations

  • 利己主義者(りこしゅぎしゃ): egoist; selfish person
  • 利己主義的(りこしゅぎてき): egoistic; selfish (adjective)
  • 利己主義(りこしゅぎ)に走(はし)る: to give in to selfishness
  • 利己主義(りこしゅぎ)に陥(おちい)る: to fall into egoism

Similar words

  • 利他主義(りたしゅぎ): altruism — the direct antonym; putting others' interests first
  • 自己中心(じこちゅうしん): self-centeredness — a more colloquial term (often shortened to ジコチュー)
  • わがまま: selfishness; willfulness — an everyday word for being spoiled or demanding
  • エゴイズム: egoism — the loanword from English; used interchangeably in some contexts

Related Words

Antonym: 利他主義(りたしゅぎ) (altruism)
Compare: 自己中心(じこちゅうしん) (self-centeredness)
Compare: わがまま (selfishness)
Related: 利己的(りこてき) (selfish)
general
Added 2026.4.25 23:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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