The word 自私 (zìsī), meaning "selfish", is formed through a direct and conceptually straightforward fusion of its two component characters. The first character, 自 (zì), fundamentally means "self" or "oneself". The second, 私 (sī), carries the core meaning of "private", "personal", or "self-interest". When combined, they create a compound idea where "self" (自) is exclusively aligned with "private interest" (私), visually and semantically painting a picture of an individual who turns inward, enclosing their concerns within their own private sphere, thereby conveying the core meaning of prioritizing one's own desires and gains without regard for others.