altruism
/ˈæltruɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæltruɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈal-trü-ˌi-zəm/ (ame, mw)
altruism — 名詞
1. the principle or practice of helping other people and putting their well-being b
利他主義
無私助人、不計自身利益
the principle or practice of helping other people and putting their well-being before your own, even when there is no personal benefit or reward for you
The nurse's quiet altruism inspired her colleagues to donate their weekend shifts.
那位護士默默展現的利他主義，激勵了她的同事們捐出週末的輪班時段。
possessive + altruism shows who acts selflessly
Donating a kidney to a stranger remains one of the greatest acts of altruism.
為陌生人捐贈一顆腎臟，仍是最偉大的利他行為之一。
act of altruism — preferred countable frame
Mei-Lin showed true altruism by donating her savings to build a well in her village.
Mei-Lin 展現了真正的利他主義，捐出積蓄在村裡興建水井。
In business, pure altruism is rare, yet some firms put community needs before profits.
在商場上，純粹的利他主義很少見，但有些公司確實將社區需求置於利潤之上。
Fatima refused a better city job and stayed out of altruism towards her patients.
Fatima 拒絕了更好的城市工作，選擇留下是出於對病人的利他主義。
- selflessness
more everyday and informal; describes a personal quality rather than a principle
- generosity
broader scope — can mean giving money or gifts, not necessarily at a cost to oneself
- philanthropy
more formal and institutional; usually involves large-scale giving by wealthy individuals or foundations
- benevolence
describes a kindly disposition or desire to do good, without the element of personal sacrifice
- selfishness
focus on one's own advantage; the opposite of putting others first
- egoism
the ethical theory that self-interest is the proper goal of all action
- self-interest
pursuit of personal benefit, even when helping others
文法句型
possessive + altruism
altruism + of + noun
act / gesture / spirit of altruism
用法筆記
Frequently used in abstract or philosophical discussion rather than to label a single action. For a specific helpful act, 'an act of altruism' or 'a gesture of altruism' is natural; 'an altruism' alone is ungrammatical because the noun is uncountable.