自己満足

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 自己満足 is read as じこまんぞく and means self-satisfaction.
• Basic usage: It can criticize an act that does not help the other person or describe an effort to seek outside feedback.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• When an act helps no one else
  • 自己満足: An act becomes mere self-satisfaction if it does not help the other person. Example: 相手の役に立たなければ単なる自己満足になる。
• Seeking views beyond one’s own
  • 自己満足: Feedback is requested to avoid settling for mere self-satisfaction. Example: 彼は自己満足で終わらないよう周囲に感想を聞いた。