expression, noun
self-preservation; looking out for oneself; putting one's own safety first
Idiomatic expression emphasizing that one's own well-being or safety is the top priority, often used in contexts of danger or self-interest.
災害時には我が身可愛さで逃げるのが当然だ。
In a disaster, it's natural to flee out of self-preservation.
彼の行動は我が身可愛さから出たものだ。
His actions stemmed from looking out for himself.
From 我が身 (one's own body/self) + 可愛さ (preciousness, lovableness), literally 'the preciousness of one's own self'.