📖 Meaning
To deceive oneself as well as others. It describes someone who not only lies to other people but also deludes themselves into believing those lies. The term condemns a pattern of willful self-delusion that compounds dishonesty toward others.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase is attributed to the Song dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹), recorded in the 'Zhuzi Yulei' (朱子语类), a compilation of Zhu Xi's conversations with his disciples. Zhu Xi used the expression to discuss the nature of self-deception, noting that deceiving others is itself a form of self-deception, and that such behavior represents the most extreme kind of self-deception. The idiom reflects the Confucian emphasis on moral sincerity (诚), where being honest with oneself was considered the foundation of ethical conduct.
💡 Example Usage
明知实力不足却硬说能赢，不过是自欺欺人罢了。
Claiming you can win when you know your skills fall short is nothing but deceiving yourself and others.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 自欺欺人
- Pinyin: zì qī qī rén
- Literal Translation: self, deceive, deceive, people
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4