自尊
zìzūn · HSK 7
pride
🪞 自 self + 尊 to revere = revering yourself = self-worth
自 means self; 尊 means to honor or revere (it also marks something senior or esteemed). Together they name the regard you hold for yourself. The same 尊 shows up in 尊敬 to respect and 尊重 to esteem.
自 — pictograph of a nose
自 originally depicted a human nose, shown frontally with the bridge and nostrils. Ancient Chinese pointed to their own nose to mean 'me,' so 自 shifted to mean 'self' or 'oneself.' A new character 鼻 was later created to carry the original 'nose' meaning.