自娱自乐
zì yú zì lè
to amuse oneself; to do something just for one’s own pleasure
Character by character
自zì
self
self
娱yú
amuse
amuse
自zì
self
self
乐lè
enjoy
enjoy
Example
我唱歌不好听，平时只是在家里自娱自乐。
I am no singer; I just sing at home for my own fun.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Modest when you say it of yourself: not for show, not for prizes. Said of others it can be gently dismissive, of something nobody else pays attention to.
Learn this in Lesson 13 · HSK 5: 公园里的中国 (A morning in a Chinese park)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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