wúsī: 无私 - Selfless, Altruistic, Unselfish

• Keywords: wusi, 无私, selfless in Chinese, altruistic Chinese, unselfish, selfless love, wusi meaning, Chinese character for selflessness, Chinese values, collectivism, Lei Feng spirit, Chinese virtues.
• Summary: Discover the profound meaning of 无私 (wúsī), the Chinese word for selflessness and altruism. This entry explores how wúsī represents a core virtue in Chinese culture, signifying a deep, sacrificial devotion to family, community, or a cause, far beyond simple unselfishness. Learn its character origins, cultural significance in both traditional and modern China, and how to use it correctly to praise acts of great sacrifice and love.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wúsī
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Having no selfish motives; completely unselfish and dedicated to others.
• In a Nutshell: 无私 (wúsī) is a powerful and formal word describing a profound level of self-sacrifice. It’s not just about sharing your lunch; it’s about putting the needs of a group (your family, your country, humanity) completely before your own, without expecting anything in return. Think of a mother's love for her child or a hero sacrificing themselves for a greater good—that is the essence of wúsī.

• 无 (wú): This character means “without,” “no,” “not have,” or “lacking.” Pictorially, it can be imagined as a person waving their arms, signifying they have nothing. It represents emptiness or non-existence.
• 私 (sī): This character means “private,” “personal,” or “selfish.” It is composed of `禾` (hé), meaning “grain,” and `厶` (an old form of 私), representing something private or enclosed. The combination suggests hoarding grain for oneself, hence the meaning of “selfish” or “private interest.”

When combined, 无私 (wúsī) literally translates to “without selfishness,” a direct and powerful expression of its meaning.

无私 (wúsī) is more than just a word; it's a highly esteemed virtue deeply embedded in the Chinese cultural psyche, shaped by both ancient philosophy and modern politics.

• Confucian and Collectivist Roots: In traditional Chinese society, which emphasizes collectivism, the well-being of the group (family, clan, society) often takes precedence over the individual. 无私 aligns perfectly with Confucian ideals where a person's moral duty is to their family and community. A parent's love for a child is often described as the ultimate example of 无私的爱 (wúsī de ài), or “selfless love.”
• Socialist Ideal: After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the concept of 无私 was adopted and amplified to promote socialist values. It was used to praise individuals who sacrificed personal gain for the good of the country, the people, and the Party. The most famous example is 雷锋 (Léi Fēng), a soldier whose diary (published posthumously) was filled with accounts of his selfless deeds. The “Lei Feng Spirit” (雷锋精神, Léi Fēng jīngshén) became a nationwide campaign promoting 无私奉献 (wúsī fèngxiàn)—selfless dedication.
• Comparison to Western “Altruism”: While “altruism” is a close equivalent, 无私 in a Chinese context often carries a stronger weight of duty and obligation. Western altruism is frequently viewed as a personal, voluntary choice made by an individual. 无私, however, is often framed as the expected, correct, and honorable way to behave within one's role—as a parent, a soldier, a doctor, or a good citizen. It implies a more complete negation of the self in favor of the collective.

无私 is a strong, formal adjective used to express deep respect and admiration. It is not a casual word.

• High Praise: Use 无私 to describe significant acts of sacrifice or dedication. It's most commonly found in formal writing, speeches, news reports, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude.
• Common Collocations:
  • 无私的爱 (wúsī de ài): Selfless love (e.g., from parents).
  • 无私奉献 (wúsī fèngxiàn): Selfless dedication/contribution.
  • 无私的精神 (wúsī de jīngshén): A selfless spirit.
  • 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī): A chengyu (idiom) meaning “perfectly impartial” or “selfless and devoted to public interests.”
• Formality: You would not use 无私 to describe someone sharing a snack or giving you a ride. Doing so would sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic. For everyday kindness, words like `大方 (dàfang - generous)` or `热心 (rèxīn - warm-hearted)` are more appropriate.

• Example 1:
  • 父母对子女的爱是无私的。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ duì zǐnǚ de ài shì wúsī de.
  • English: The love of parents for their children is selfless.
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and common usage of 无私, describing the ideal of parental love.
• Example 2:
  • 我们要学习雷锋同志无私奉献的精神。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yào xuéxí Léi Fēng tóngzhì wúsī fèngxiàn de jīngshén.
  • English: We should learn from Comrade Lei Feng's spirit of selfless dedication.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the political and social use of 无私 as a model virtue to be emulated.
• Example 3:
  • 在疫情期间，医生和护士们展现了无私的勇气。
  • Pinyin: Zài yìqíng qījiān, yīshēng hé hùshi men zhǎnxiànle wúsī de yǒngqì.
  • English: During the pandemic, the doctors and nurses displayed selfless courage.
  • Analysis: Here, 无私 is used to praise professionals who put public health before their own safety.
• Example 4:
  • 他无私地把自己的全部积蓄都捐给了慈善机构。
  • Pinyin: Tā wúsī de bǎ zìjǐ de quánbù jīxù dōu juān gěile císhàn jīgòu.
  • English: He selflessly donated all his life savings to charity.
  • Analysis: This highlights a significant personal sacrifice, making the use of 无私 appropriate.
• Example 5:
  • 作为领导，他总是大公无私，得到了所有人的尊重。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi lǐngdǎo, tā zǒngshì dàgōngwúsī, dédàole suǒyǒu rén de zūnzhòng.
  • English: As a leader, he is always impartial and selfless, and has earned everyone's respect.
  • Analysis: This uses the idiom `大公无私` to describe someone who acts for the public good without personal bias.
• Example 6:
  • 感谢你无私的帮助，我永远不会忘记。
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nǐ wúsī de bāngzhù, wǒ yǒngyuǎn bùhuì wàngjì.
  • English: Thank you for your selfless help; I will never forget it.
  • Analysis: This is a very strong and formal way to thank someone for significant, sacrificial help.
• Example 7:
  • 他的行为是完全无私的，没有任何个人目的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xíngwéi shì wánquán wúsī de, méiyǒu rènhé gèrén mùdì.
  • English: His actions were completely selfless, without any personal motive.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly defines the meaning of 无私 as acting without personal gain.
• Example 8:
  • 无私是一种非常高尚的品德。
  • Pinyin: Wúsī shì yī zhǒng fēicháng gāoshàng de pǐndé.
  • English: Selflessness is a very noble virtue.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence that defines 无私 as a moral quality.
• Example 9:
  • 这位科学家无私地分享了他的研究成果，推动了整个行业的发展。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā wúsī de fēnxiǎngle tā de yánjiū chéngguǒ, tuīdòngle zhěnggè hángyè de fāzhǎn.
  • English: This scientist selflessly shared his research findings, advancing the entire industry.
  • Analysis: Shows 无私 in the context of intellectual contribution rather than physical or financial sacrifice.
• Example 10:
  • 消防员们无私地冲进火场，拯救了许多生命。
  • Pinyin: Xiāofáng yuánmen wúsī de chōng jìn huǒchǎng, zhěngjiùle xǔduō shēngmìng.
  • English: The firefighters selflessly rushed into the fire, saving many lives.
  • Analysis: A classic example of praising heroes who risk their lives for others.

• Mistake: Overusing it for minor acts. The most common mistake for learners is to treat 无私 like the English word “unselfish.” It is much stronger.
  • Incorrect: `他很无私，把最后一块比萨给了我。` (Tā hěn wúsī, bǎ zuìhòu yīkuài bǐsà gěile wǒ.)
  • Why it's wrong: This act is kind, but not a profound sacrifice. Using 无私 here sounds awkward and hyperbolic.
  • Correct: `他真大方！` (Tā zhēn dàfang!) - “He's so generous!” or `他真好！` (Tā zhēn hǎo!) - “He's so nice!”
• False Friend: “Generous” vs. “Selfless”. 无私 (wúsī) is about the negation of self-interest. `慷慨 (kāngkǎi)` or `大方 (dàfang)` are about being generous with what you have (money, time, resources). A rich person can be very generous (`慷慨`) without being selfless (`无私`). 无私 implies you are giving even when it's a true sacrifice for you.

• 自私 (zìsī) - The direct antonym of 无私, meaning “selfish.”
• 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) - A popular idiom meaning “to be completely impartial and selfless,” often used to describe officials or leaders. It's an intensified form of 无私.
• 奉献 (fèngxiàn) - To dedicate; to devote. This verb is the action often associated with a 无私 spirit, as in `无私奉献`.
• 舍己为人 (shě jǐ wèi rén) - An idiom meaning “to sacrifice oneself for others.” It describes the action that stems from a 无私 character.
• 雷锋精神 (Léi Fēng jīngshén) - The “Lei Feng Spirit.” A specific cultural term representing the ideal of 无私 dedication to the country and its people, named after a model soldier.
• 慷慨 (kāngkǎi) - Generous; magnanimous. More formal and often relates to giving money or resources freely. It's a form of kindness but doesn't imply the same level of self-sacrifice as 无私.
• 大方 (dàfang) - Generous. A more common and colloquial term for generosity in everyday situations. This is the word you'd use if someone shares their food or pays for dinner.
• 博爱 (bó'ài) - Universal love; philanthropy. This term is broader and more philosophical, referring to a love for all humanity, akin to the Greek concept of “agape.”