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私利 (しり) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

私し利り

し

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

self-interest; personal profit

Refers to acting for one's own benefit, often with a negative connotation of selfishness. Frequently used in the compound 私利私欲 (selfish greed).

彼かれは私し利りのために動うごいている。
He is acting out of self-interest.
政せい治じ家かは私し利り私し欲よくに走はしってはいけない。
Politicians must not pursue selfish greed.

Kanji

私private, I, me
利profit, advantage, benefit

Similar words

私し欲よく
私欲 specifically means selfish desire or greed, while 私利 is broader, encompassing any personal gain or interest.
利り己こ
利己 is a more formal term for egoism or self-centeredness, often used in philosophical contexts, whereas 私利 is more about practical personal profit.

Etymology

Compound of 私 (private, personal) and 利 (profit, advantage). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally yields the meaning of personal gain.