égoïstement در ۳۰ ثانیه
- Égoïstement means 'selfishly' and is used to describe actions focused solely on self-interest.
- It is an adverb of manner formed from the adjective 'égoïste' and the suffix '-ment'.
- The word carries a negative moral connotation in French, suggesting a lack of social solidarity.
- Correct pronunciation requires observing the tréma on the 'i' to separate the vowels.
The adverb égoïstement is a core part of the French moral vocabulary, used to describe actions performed with a focus on one's own advantage, often at the expense of others. In French culture, which places a high value on social cohesion and shared public space, acting égoïstement is frequently viewed with significant social disapproval. It is derived from the adjective égoïste, which in turn stems from the Latin word ego meaning 'I'. The suffix -ment transforms it into an adverb, equivalent to the English '-ly'.
- Social Context
- In France, the concept of 'le vivre-ensemble' (living together) is central. To act égoïstement is to break the unspoken social contract of mutual consideration.
Il a gardé toutes les informations pour lui, agissant égoïstement pour obtenir la promotion.
Historically, the term gained prominence during the Enlightenment as philosophers debated the nature of human motivation. Is every act fundamentally driven by self-interest? French literature, from La Rochefoucauld to modern novelists, often explores the tension between altruism and the tendency to act égoïstement. In daily life, you might hear it used to describe small slights—like someone taking the last seat on the Metro without looking around—or major life decisions, such as a family member ignoring the needs of the group.
- Moral Nuance
- While usually negative, in certain modern psychological contexts, one might speak of 'penser égoïstement' as a form of necessary self-care, though this remains a rare and specific usage.
Ne décide pas égoïstement sans consulter le reste de l'équipe.
Using égoïstement requires an understanding of French adverb placement. Generally, adverbs that modify a verb are placed immediately after the conjugated verb in simple tenses, and between the auxiliary and the past participle in compound tenses. However, because égoïstement is a longer adverb of manner, it often appears at the end of the clause for emphasis or to maintain the rhythmic balance of the sentence.
- Placement in Tenses
- In the 'Passé Composé', you would say 'Il a agi égoïstement' (He acted selfishly). Note that it follows the past participle here because of its length and descriptive weight.
Elle a égoïstement refusé de partager son goûter avec ses amis.
You can also use it to modify an entire sentence by placing it at the beginning, followed by a comma. This sets a judgmental tone for the statement that follows. For example: 'Égoïstement, il a ignoré les appels de détresse de son voisin.' (Selfishly, he ignored his neighbor's distress calls). This construction is particularly common in formal writing or narrative storytelling to highlight the character's flaws.
Il se comporte égoïstement depuis qu'il a gagné au loto.
In professional settings, the word is used to critique lack of teamwork. If a manager says a project was handled égoïstement, they are implying that the individual prioritized their own reputation over the collective success of the department. It is a powerful word that carries a heavy emotional and ethical charge, so it should be used with caution in polite conversation.
You will encounter égoïstement in a variety of contexts, from heated domestic arguments to sophisticated political analysis. In French cinema and literature, it is a frequent descriptor for the 'anti-hero' or the 'bourgeois' character who is disconnected from the needs of the masses. On French news channels (like BFM TV or France 24), commentators might use it to describe the actions of nations in international relations, particularly regarding the hoarding of resources or vaccine nationalism.
- In Literature
- Classic authors like Balzac or Flaubert use the adverb to dissect the provincial or Parisian ambitions of their characters.
Certains pays ont réagi égoïstement face à la crise climatique mondiale.
In everyday speech, parents often use it to correct children's behavior: 'Ne joue pas égoïstement, partage tes jouets!' (Don't play selfishly, share your toys!). It is also common in relationship advice columns or podcasts where hosts discuss 'red flags' in partners. Hearing someone described as acting égoïstement is a clear signal of social friction.
Elle a vécu égoïstement sans jamais se soucier du lendemain.
Furthermore, in philosophical circles—which are quite popular in French high schools (Lycée) due to the mandatory philosophy 'bac'—the word is used to contrast with 'altruistement'. Students learn to analyze if humans can truly ever escape acting égoïstement, citing thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau or Sartre.
One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is the spelling and pronunciation of the 'ï'. Without the tréma, the word would be pronounced differently. It is not 'e-goist-ment' but 'é-go-ist-e-ment'. Another common error is confusing égoïstement with individuellement. While they can overlap, individuellement simply means 'one by one' or 'as an individual', whereas égoïstement carries a moral judgment of selfishness.
- False Friend Alert
- Do not confuse with 'personnellement'. If you say 'Je pense égoïstement que...', you are saying 'I selfishly think...', which is very different from 'Personnellement, je pense...' (Personally, I think...).
Mauvais : Il a mangé égoïste. (Adjective used instead of adverb).
Correct : Il a mangé égoïstement.
Learners also often misplace the adverb in complex sentences. Remember that in French, long adverbs like égoïstement rarely come between the subject and the verb. Saying 'Il égoïstement a agi' is grammatically incorrect. It must follow the verb or the past participle.
On ne peut pas agir égoïstement quand on travaille en équipe.
Finally, be careful with the agreement. Since it is an adverb, it is invariable. It does not change whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural. 'Elles ont agi égoïstement' is correct; do not add an 's' or 'e' to the end of the adverb.
If you want to vary your vocabulary, there are several synonyms for égoïstement, each with a slightly different shade of meaning. Mesquinement is used when the selfishness is petty or involves small amounts of money or effort. Personnellement can sometimes be used in a neutral sense, but individuellement is the better choice for strictly non-judgmental contexts.
- Synonym Comparison
- Égoïstement: Moral judgment of self-centeredness.
Mesquinement: Focus on pettiness or stinginess.
Sordidement: Selfishness that is base, dirty, or shameful.
Il a agi mesquinement en comptant chaque centime de la note.
For antonyms, the most direct opposite is généreusement (generously). If you want to describe someone acting for the benefit of others without any self-interest, use altruistement or désintéressément. These words are more formal and are often used in academic or literary discussions about ethics.
Au lieu de penser égoïstement, essayons d'agir altruistement.
In a more informal or colorful context, you might say someone is 'tirant la couverture à soi' (pulling the blanket to themselves), which is an idiomatic way of saying they are acting égoïstement by taking all the resources or credit for themselves.
نکته جالب
The word 'égoïsme' was popularized by the French Encyclopedists in the 1750s as a philosophical term before it became a common insult.
راهنمای تلفظ
- Pronouncing it as three syllables 'é-go-ist-ment' instead of four 'é-go-ist-e-ment' (though the 'e' is often elided in fast speech).
- Failing to make the 'ment' nasal.
- Merging the 'o' and 'i' into a diphthong like 'oi' in 'moi'.
- Mispronouncing the 'é' as a short 'e' like in 'pet'.
- Stress on the first syllable instead of the last.
مثالها بر اساس سطح
Il garde le chocolat égoïstement.
He keeps the chocolate selfishly.
Adverb follows the verb 'garde'.
Elle joue égoïstement avec le ballon.
She plays selfishly with the ball.
Simple present tense usage.
Ne mange pas égoïstement !
Don't eat selfishly!
Imperative mood.
L'enfant agit égoïstement.
The child acts selfishly.
Subject-verb-adverb structure.
Il pense égoïstement à son jouet.
He thinks selfishly about his toy.
Preposition 'à' follows 'pense'.
Elle sourit égoïstement.
She smiles selfishly.
Adverb modifying the verb 'sourit'.
Ils vivent égoïstement dans leur maison.
They live selfishly in their house.
Plural subject usage.
Tu parles égoïstement aujourd'hui.
You are talking selfishly today.
Time adverb 'aujourd'hui' at the end.
Il a refusé égoïstement de nous aider.
He selfishly refused to help us.
Passé composé with adverb after the past participle.
Elle a choisi égoïstement la meilleure place.
She selfishly chose the best seat.
Verb 'choisir' in passé composé.
Nous ne devons pas agir égoïstement.
We must not act selfishly.
Modal verb 'devoir' + infinitive 'agir'.
Il a pris tout l'argent égoïstement.
He took all the money selfishly.
Direct object 'tout l'argent' before the adverb.
Pourquoi agis-tu si égoïstement ?
Why are you acting so selfishly?
Interrogative with inversion.
Elle a égoïstement gardé le secret.
She selfishly kept the secret.
Adverb placed between auxiliary and participle for emphasis.
Ils ont égoïstement ignoré nos appels.
They selfishly ignored our calls.
Verb 'ignorer' in passé composé.
Il a fini le gâteau égoïstement.
He finished the cake selfishly.
Adverb at the end for rhythmic balance.
Dans ce film, le héros se comporte égoïstement au début.
In this movie, the hero behaves selfishly at the beginning.
Pronominal verb 'se comporter'.
Elle a géré ce projet égoïstement pour briller seule.
She managed this project selfishly to shine alone.
Infinitive of purpose 'pour briller'.
Il est facile de juger ceux qui agissent égoïstement.
It is easy to judge those who act selfishly.
Relative clause 'ceux qui'.
Égoïstement, il n'a pas pensé aux conséquences pour sa famille.
Selfishly, he didn't think about the consequences for his family.
Sentence-initial adverb usage.
Si tu continues à vivre égoïstement, tu finiras seul.
If you continue to live selfishly, you will end up alone.
Condition with 'si' + present + future.
L'entreprise a agi égoïstement en licenciant ses employés.
The company acted selfishly by laying off its employees.
Gerund 'en licenciant' explaining the action.
Elle s'est égoïstement approprié les idées de ses collègues.
She selfishly appropriated her colleagues' ideas.
Pronominal verb in passé composé.
Il a égoïstement profité de la situation pour s'enrichir.
He selfishly took advantage of the situation to get rich.
Verb 'profiter de'.
Certains politiciens agissent égoïstement pour conserver le pouvoir.
Some politicians act selfishly to maintain power.
Present tense for general truths.
Il est regrettable qu'il ait agi si égoïstement lors de la réunion.
It is regrettable that he acted so selfishly during the meeting.
Subjunctive mood after 'il est regrettable que'.
La société nous pousse parfois à penser égoïstement à notre carrière.
Society sometimes pushes us to think selfishly about our career.
Verb 'pousser à' + infinitive.
Elle a égoïstement négligé ses responsabilités envers la communauté.
She selfishly neglected her responsibilities toward the community.
Adverb modifying 'négligé'.
Bien qu'il soit riche, il dépense son argent égoïstement.
Although he is rich, he spends his money selfishly.
Concession with 'bien que' + subjunctive.
Il a égoïstement refusé de céder son siège à une personne âgée.
He selfishly refused to give up his seat to an elderly person.
Verb 'refuser de' + infinitive.
On ne peut pas construire un avenir si tout le monde agit égoïstement.
We cannot build a future if everyone acts selfishly.
Hypothetical 'si' clause.
Elle a égoïstement monopolisé la parole pendant tout le débat.
She selfishly monopolized the floor during the entire debate.
Adverb modifying 'monopolisé'.
L'individu, agissant égoïstement, finit par s'aliéner de ses pairs.
The individual, acting selfishly, ends up alienating themselves from their peers.
Present participle 'agissant' used as an apposition.
L'auteur dépeint un monde où chaque personnage vit égoïstement.
The author depicts a world where every character lives selfishly.
Relative clause with 'où'.
Il serait simpliste de dire que nous agissons toujours égoïstement.
It would be simplistic to say that we always act selfishly.
Conditional mood 'serait'.
Égoïstement, elle a écarté tout obstacle à sa réussite personnelle.
Selfishly, she swept aside every obstacle to her personal success.
Sentence-initial adverb for narrative effect.
Le néolibéralisme est souvent critiqué pour encourager à agir égoïstement.
Neoliberalism is often criticized for encouraging selfish action.
Passive voice 'est critiqué'.
Il a égoïstement sacrifié l'intérêt général pour son profit immédiat.
He selfishly sacrificed the public interest for his immediate profit.
Opposition between 'intérêt général' and 'profit immédiat'.
Elle a égoïstement ignoré les appels à la solidarité nationale.
She selfishly ignored the calls for national solidarity.
Noun 'solidarité' as an antonymic concept.
Peut-on reprocher à un enfant d'agir égoïstement avant d'avoir appris le partage ?
Can we blame a child for acting selfishly before they have learned to share?
Infinitive clause 'd'agir' after 'reprocher à'.
L'analyse des structures sociales révèle comment l'individu est incité à se comporter égoïstement.
The analysis of social structures reveals how the individual is encouraged to behave selfishly.
Indirect question with 'comment'.
Agir égoïstement n'est pas une fatalité, mais un choix dicté par l'environnement.
Acting selfishly is not an inevitability, but a choice dictated by the environment.
Infinitive 'Agir' used as a noun subject.
Elle a égoïstement orchestré la chute de ses rivaux pour asseoir sa domination.
She selfishly orchestrated the fall of her rivals to establish her dominance.
High-level vocabulary like 'orchestré' and 'asseoir sa domination'.
L'histoire retiendra qu'ils ont agi égoïstement au mépris de l'humanité.
History will remember that they acted selfishly in defiance of humanity.
Future tense 'retiendra' for historical perspective.
Il s'agit de ne pas succomber à la tentation de penser égoïstement en temps de crise.
It is a matter of not succumbing to the temptation of thinking selfishly in times of crisis.
Impersonal 'Il s'agit de'.
Bien que l'instinct de survie puisse pousser à agir égoïstement, la culture tempère cet élan.
Although the survival instinct may push one to act selfishly, culture tempers this impulse.
Subjunctive 'puisse' after 'bien que'.
Égoïstement, le système privilégie les nantis au détriment des plus vulnérables.
Selfishly, the system favors the wealthy at the expense of the most vulnerable.
Personification of 'le système'.
Nul ne peut prétendre n'avoir jamais agi égoïstement au cours de son existence.
No one can claim to have never acted selfishly in the course of their existence.
Negative pronoun 'Nul' + double negative 'n'avoir jamais'.
مترادفها
متضادها
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
— To act selfishly because of a lack of foresight.
Il agit égoïstement et ne voit pas plus loin que le bout de son nez.
— To take all the credit or resources for oneself.
Dans ce projet, il a égoïstement tiré la couverture à soi.
— To play for oneself (often in sports or work).
L'attaquant a joué perso égoïstement au lieu de faire une passe.
— To think only about one's own small needs.
Elle ne pense qu'à sa petite personne égoïstement.
— To act alone without consulting others.
Il a fait cavalier seul égoïstement sur cette décision.
— To take advantage of every source of profit selfishly.
Il mange à tous les râteliers égoïstement.
— To keep something for oneself instead of sharing.
Il a gardé l'information pour lui égoïstement.
— To make a profit for oneself selfishly.
Il a fait son beurre égoïstement pendant la crise.
— To be self-centered in a selfish way.
Elle est totalement centrée sur elle égoïstement.
— To listen only to one's own desires.
Il s'écoute trop égoïstement pour aider les autres.
اصطلاحات و عبارات
— Every man for himself; the ultimate expression of acting égoïstement.
Dans cette entreprise, c'est chacun pour soi.
informal— I don't care what happens after I'm gone; extreme selfish disregard.
Il dépense tout son héritage : après moi, le déluge.
literary— To get the benefit of a situation for oneself, often selfishly.
Il a su tirer ses marrons du feu égoïstement.
neutral— To act selfishly for gain at the cost of one's morals.
Il a vendu son âme au diable égoïstement pour ce poste.
metaphorical— To mind one's own business, sometimes used to justify acting égoïstement.
Il se contente de balayer devant sa porte égoïstement.
proverbial— To lose something real for a selfish illusion.
Il a égoïstement lâché la proie pour l'ombre.
literary— To take the biggest part of something for oneself.
Il s'est fait la part du lion égoïstement.
idiomatic— To be very ambitious, often implying acting égoïstement.
Il a les dents longues et agit égoïstement.
informal— To be tough and selfish in dealings.
En affaires, il ne fait pas de cadeaux et agit égoïstement.
neutral— To be stingy, often used when acting égoïstement regarding shared costs.
Il nous force à nous serrer la ceinture alors qu'il vit égoïstement.
informalخانواده کلمه
اسمها
فعلها
صفتها
مرتبط
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'Ego' (I) + 'ist' (person) + 'ment' (manner). An 'ego-ist-manner' is acting only for 'I'.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a person sitting at a table eating a huge cake alone while others look on with empty plates.
شبکه واژگان
ریشه کلمه
Formed in the 18th century from the adjective 'égoïste'. The adjective comes from the Latin 'ego' (I) with the suffix '-iste'.
معنای اصلی: The quality of referring everything to oneself.
Romance (Indo-European).Summary
The word 'égoïstement' is more than just 'selfishly'; it is a social critique in French culture. For example, 'Il a agi égoïstement' implies he broke the social bond of sharing.
- Égoïstement means 'selfishly' and is used to describe actions focused solely on self-interest.
- It is an adverb of manner formed from the adjective 'égoïste' and the suffix '-ment'.
- The word carries a negative moral connotation in French, suggesting a lack of social solidarity.
- Correct pronunciation requires observing the tréma on the 'i' to separate the vowels.
محتوای مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر family
à charge
B2تحت تکفل؛ فردی از خانواده که از نظر مالی توسط دیگری حمایت میشود.
à deux
A2دو نفره؛ با هم به عنوان یک جفت.
à domicile
A2در منزل
à jamais
A2Forever, for all time.
à la charge de
B2Dependent on; at the expense of.
à la mémoire de
B2به یاد؛ عبارتی رسمی که برای بزرگداشت فردی که درگذشته است به کار میرود.
à la place de
B21. به جای چای همیشگی ام، قهوه خوردم. 2. معلم به جای امتحان، تمرین اضافی به من داد.
à l'amiable
B2Amicably, by mutual agreement.
à l'égard de
A2With regard to; concerning.
à l'image de
B2به تصویرِ؛ مانندِ.
