无私

wúsī

selfless

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The adjective 无私 (wúsī) describes someone who is selfless, without selfish motives or personal gain. It often praises people who act fairly and generously, especially in helping others or contributing to society.

Common Contexts

无私 is frequently used to describe altruistic behavior, such as volunteers, teachers, or leaders who put others' needs before their own. It carries a positive moral judgment.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 无私奉献 (wúsī fèngxiàn): selfless dedication, often used for charitable or volunteer work.
  • 无私帮助 (wúsī bāngzhù): selfless help, emphasizing aid without expecting reward.

Usage Notes

无私 is a formal and respectful term. It contrasts with words like 自私 (zìsī), which means selfish. Avoid confusing these two as they have opposite meanings. 无私 usually appears before nouns to describe a person or behavior.

Summary

Use 无私 to highlight noble, generous qualities in people or actions, especially when emphasizing fairness and lack of personal interest.

Example Sentences

他是一个无私的人,总是帮助别人而不求回报。

Tā shì yí gè wúsī de rén, zǒng shì bāngzhù biérén ér bù qiú huíbào.

He is a selfless person who always helps others without expecting anything

无私奉献是志愿者最重要的品质。

Wúsī fèngxiàn shì zhìyuànzhě zuì zhòngyào de pǐnzhì.

Selfless dedication is the most important quality of a volunteer.

他无私地把自己的时间和精力都投入到公益事业中。

Tā wúsī de bǎ zìjǐ de shíjiān hé jīnglì dōu tóurù dào gōngyì shìyè zhōng.

He selflessly devotes his time and energy to public welfare work.