self-protection; self-preservation; looking out for oneself
Often carries a negative nuance of prioritizing one's own safety or interests over others, similar to 'covering one's own back'.
His actions were for self-preservation.
Politicians tend to prioritize their own interests.
保身 alone also means self-protection, but 自己保身 is more emphatic and explicitly self-focused.
自己防衛 is more neutral and often used in legal or psychological contexts for self-defense, while 自己保身 often implies selfishness.
Compound of 自己 (self) and 保身 (protecting oneself). 保身 is a Sino-Japanese word from 保 (protect) and 身 (body/self).