Definition
自封 has two main senses. First, it means to proclaim or style oneself as something, often with a negative connotation of self-appointment without outside recognition (e.g., 自封为专家 'style oneself an expert'). Second, it means to confine or isolate oneself, usually in the four-character idiom 闭关自守 or 自我封闭, referring to cutting oneself off from the outside world. The gloss 'enrich oneself without regard for others' is a mistranslation and not a real sense.
v.
to proclaim oneself (as)to style oneself (as) — often with a negative tone of unearned self-appointmentto confine oneselfto isolate oneself (from the outside world)
Examples
- 自封“”，。Tā zì fēng wéi “guóxué dàshī”, qíshí shuǐpíng yìbān.He styles himself a 'master of Chinese studies', but his level is average.
- 自封，。Yí gè guójiā rúguǒ zì fēng, jiù huì cuòguò fāzhǎn jīhuì.If a country isolates itself, it will miss out on development opportunities.
- 自封，。Búyào zì fēng wéi yìshùjiā, zuòpǐn cái shì zuì hǎo de zhèngmíng.Don't style yourself an artist; the work itself is the best proof.
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