自负
zì fù · HSK 7
conceited
🦚 自 self + 负 to bear: bear it yourself (take responsibility) or carry yourself too high (conceited)
负 means to carry or owe; paired with 自 (self) it splits two ways: shoulder the burden yourself, or rate your own self so highly you become conceited. A peacock 🦚 carries itself proudly.
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.
负 — person 𠂉 (人) on top + cowrie shell 贝
Originally depicted a person carrying cowrie shells (money), showing someone bearing a load or owing wealth. From this came the meanings 'to carry on the back,' 'to bear a burden,' and by extension 'to owe' or 'negative.' The simplified form 负 keeps 贝 (shell/money) under a person.