noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
self-preservation
Refers to the instinct or act of protecting oneself from harm or death. Often used in biological, psychological, or philosophical contexts.
自己保存の本能はすべての生物に備わっている。
The instinct of self-preservation is inherent in all living things.
彼は自己保存のために危険を避けた。
He avoided danger for self-preservation.
自己防衛 (self-defense) emphasizes active protection against a specific threat, while 自己保存 (self-preservation) is broader, often referring to an innate drive to maintain one's existence.
Compound of 自己 (self) and 保存 (preservation, conservation). The term is a direct adaptation of the Western concept of self-preservation, likely entering Japanese through academic or philosophical discourse in the modern era.