孤芳自赏 Gūfāng zìshǎng Self-admiration

Explanation

比喻品格高尚的人，由于环境恶劣或不被理解，只能独自欣赏自己的优点和特长。也指过分看重自己，自我欣赏。

It describes a person of noble character who, due to poor environmental conditions or a lack of understanding, can only admire their own virtues and talents. It also means overestimating oneself and being self-satisfied.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏僻的山谷里，住着一朵名叫“清荷”的莲花。清荷出落得格外美丽，花瓣洁白如玉，花蕊金黄似金，清香四溢，引来无数蜜蜂蝴蝶。然而，清荷却孤芳自赏，不愿与其他的莲花交流，也不愿与山谷里的其他花草为伍。它认为自己是最美的，其他的花草都比不上它。有一天，一位老禅师来到山谷，见到了清荷，赞叹道：“好一朵美丽的莲花！”清荷听了，更加得意，更加孤芳自赏。老禅师摇了摇头，说道：“清荷啊，你虽然美丽，但你孤芳自赏，终将失去许多美好的东西。真正的美丽，不在于自身的完美，而在于与他人的和谐相处。”清荷听了老禅师的话，沉默了很久。它终于明白，孤芳自赏，并不能带来真正的快乐，只有与他人和谐相处，才能体会到生命的真谛。从此以后，清荷不再孤芳自赏，它开始与其他的莲花和花草交流，也开始分享自己的美丽。它发现，与他人分享，比独自欣赏更快乐，更充实。

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, zài yīgè piānpì de shānyù lǐ, zhù zhe yī duǒ míng jiào "qīng hé" de liánhuā. qīng hé chūluò de gèwài měilì, huābàn jiébái rú yù, huāruǐ jīnhuáng sì jīn, qīngxiāng sìyì, yǐn lái wúshù mìfēng húdié. rán'ér, qīng hé què gūfāng zìshǎng, bùyuàn yú qítā de liánhuā jiāoliú, yě bùyuàn yú shānyù lǐ de qítā huācǎo wéiwǔ. tā rènwéi zìjǐ shì zuì měi de, qítā de huācǎo dōu bǐ bù shàng tā. yǒuyītiān, yī wèi lǎo chánshī lái dào shānyù, jiàn dào le qīng hé, zàntàn dào: "hǎo yī duǒ měilì de liánhuā!" qīng hé tīng le, gèngjiā déyì, gèngjiā gūfāng zìshǎng. lǎo chánshī yáo le yáo tóu, shuō dào: "qīng hé a, nǐ suīrán měilì, dàn nǐ gūfāng zìshǎng, zhōng jiāng shīqù xǔduō měihǎo de dōngxi. zhēnzhèng de měilì, bù zài yú zìshēn de wánměi, ér zài yú yǔ tārén de héxié xiāngchǔ." qīng hé tīng le lǎo chánshī de huà, chénmò le hěn jiǔ. tā zhōngyú míngbái, gūfāng zìshǎng, bìng bù néng dài lái zhēnzhèng de kuàilè, zhǐyǒu yǔ tārén héxié xiāngchǔ, cái néng tǐhuì dào shēngmìng de zhēndì. cóng cǐ yǐhòu, qīng hé bù zài gūfāng zìshǎng, tā kāishǐ yú qítā de liánhuā hé huācǎo jiāoliú, yě kāishǐ fēnxiǎng zìjǐ de měilì. tā fāxiàn, yǔ tārén fēnxiǎng, bǐ dúzì xīn shǎng gèng kuàilè, gèng chōngshí.

Long ago, in a secluded valley, lived a lotus flower named "Qinghe." Qinghe was exceptionally beautiful, with radiant white petals and a golden yellow center; her fragrance attracted countless bees and butterflies. However, Qinghe was self-admiring and unwilling to interact with other lotus flowers or the other plants in the valley. She believed herself to be the most beautiful, and all other plants were inferior to her. One day, an old Zen master came to the valley and saw Qinghe. He exclaimed, "What a beautiful lotus flower!" Qinghe became even more conceited. The Zen master shook his head and said, "Qinghe, although you are beautiful, your self-admiration will cost you many beautiful things. True beauty lies not in one's own perfection, but in harmonious coexistence with others." Qinghe listened to the Zen master's words and was silent for a long time. Finally, she understood that self-admiration does not bring true happiness; only harmonious coexistence with others reveals the meaning of life. From that day on, Qinghe was no longer self-admiring. She began to interact with other lotus flowers and plants and to share her beauty. She discovered that sharing with others brings more joy and fulfillment than being alone.

Usage

用于形容人自命清高，只顾自己欣赏自己，不与他人交往。

yòng yú xíngróng rén zìmìng qīnggāo, zhǐ gù zìjǐ xīn shǎng zìjǐ, bù yǔ tārén jiāowǎng

Used to describe someone who is self-righteous, only admiring themselves, and not interacting with others.

Examples

• 他总是孤芳自赏，不愿与人合作。

  tā zǒngshì gūfāng zìshǎng, bùyuàn yú rén hézuò

  He is always self-satisfied and unwilling to cooperate with others.

• 她的才华无人欣赏，只能孤芳自赏。

  tā de cáihuá wú rén xīn shǎng, zhǐ néng gūfāng zìshǎng

  Her talent is unappreciated, so she remains self-admiring

Related Idioms

• 自命清高

• 顾影自怜

• 夜郎自大

Opposite Idioms

• 自惭形秽

• 妄自菲薄