Definition
唯我独尊 is a four-character set phrase rooted in Buddhist scripture (from the Buddha's birth: 'above heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one'). In modern Chinese it's used critically to describe someone who considers themselves the only important person, disregarding others — arrogant, self-centered, and unwilling to listen to different opinions. It usually carries a negative judgment and appears in formal writing, commentary on leadership, or discussions about personal character.
v
(set phrase, verb-like) to consider oneself supremeto be egocentricto act as if one is the only authority
Examples
- 唯我独尊。Tā nà zhǒng wéi de tàidu ràng tuánduì wúfǎ hézuò.His attitude of considering himself supreme made it impossible for the team to cooperate.
- 唯我独尊，。Guǎnlǐ zhě bù néng wéi, bìxū tīngqǔ bùtóng yìjiàn.Managers cannot act as if they are the only authority; they must listen to different opinions.
- 唯我独尊，。Zhège huángdì wéi, zuìzhōng dǎozhì le guójiā de shuāibài.This emperor considered himself supreme, which eventually led to the decline of the country.
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