# 自以为是

zì yǐ wéi shì

Assume one's own view is always correct

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Consider oneself right

**Traditional Chinese:** 自以為是

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize confidence that refuses to consider other views.

It questions an attitude; support the criticism with specific behavior.

## The image & its use

Confidence becomes less useful when a person treats it as proof. A team member may insist that an early sketch is already perfect and refuse to look at the measurements supplied by others. This expression describes that closed attitude. It does not mean that having a clear opinion is wrong. The problem is assuming correctness without listening or checking. In feedback, describe the overlooked information and invite comparison, rather than using the phrase as a label for someone's entire character.

## Examples

讨论时别自以为是，要听听不同意见。

### Traditional Chinese

討論時別自以為是，要聽聽不同意見。

tǎo lùn shí bié zì yǐ wéi shì ， yào tīng tīng bù tóng yì jiàn 。

Do not assume you are always right in a discussion; hear other views.

他承认自己先前太自以为是，没有仔细看说明。

### Traditional Chinese

他承認自己先前太自以為是，沒有仔細看說明。

tā chéng rèn zì jǐ xiān qián tài zì yǐ wéi shì ， méi yǒu zǐ xì kàn shuō míng 。

He admitted that he had been too sure of himself to read the instructions carefully.

她愿意核对资料，并不自以为是。

### Traditional Chinese

她願意核對資料，並不自以為是。

tā yuàn yì hé duì zī liào ， bìng bù zì yǐ wéi shì 。

She is willing to check the information rather than assume she is right.

自以为是的态度让合作变得困难。

### Traditional Chinese

自以為是的態度讓合作變得困難。

zì yǐ wéi shì de tài dù ràng hé zuò biàn de kùn nán 。

An attitude of always assuming one is right makes cooperation difficult.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1204&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%87%AA%E4%BB%A5%E7%82%BA%E6%98%AF)

## Keep exploring

- [锱铢必较 zī zhū bì jiào Quibble over every tiny amount ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-zhu-bi-jiao)

- [左右逢源 zuǒ yòu féng yuán Handle circumstances smoothly on every side ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zuo-you-feng-yuan)

- [爱莫能助 ài mò néng zhù Want to help but be unable to ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ai-mo-neng-zhu)

- [爱屋及乌 ài wū jí wū Extend affection to what a loved person values ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ai-wu-ji-wu)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 自投罗网 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-tou-luo-wang) [Next idiom 自怨自艾 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-yuan-zi-yi)