The average vocabulary of an adult Russian-speaking person is about seventy-five thousand words, which also includes derivatives. Moreover, the number of word forms that a person operates with is growing imperceptibly for him. However, you should not rely solely on the "natural" recognition of words. Sometimes you have to look for the value of new ones on your own, because they are not so common. Such rather rare words include "self-interest." Not everyone can know what it means.
What it is?
“Self-interest” is, according to a small academic dictionary, care only about one’s personal gain. This meaning is contained in the word itself: "self-interest" is a benefit, and "svo-" indicates to us that a self-serving person cares only about what is beneficial to him, not too caring about the interests of other people. Obviously, the word is negative in color, as greed and selfishness are condemned in Russian culture.
Synonyms
Many words in Russian have overlapping meanings. Synonyms for "self-interest" are:
- greed;
- selfishness;
- money-grubbing;
- commercialism;
- love of money;
- skinning;
- selfishness;
- trade;
- greed;
- greed.
Examples of use
For better memorization of the meaning of words, examples are needed. Since the word "self-interest" is a book, examples of its use can be found mainly in fiction. Consider a few samples:
- Or when the condemnation of the princes and the governor for their self-interest and neglect of the welfare of the state is implanted in the mouth of Khan Shingalei.
- But after the formation of the provincial committees, his ardor cooled: he was indignant at the noble self-interest inherent in most of them.
- Since selfishness and self-interest are always regarded as immoral or, at best, morally low attitudes, it is clear that they cannot underlie the idea of the ruler.
- Would it not be more correct to say: they are all funny, because their insignificance, self-interest, uterine existence do not correspond even to the most general ideas about the high purpose of man?
Instead of a conclusion
A person’s life without words, without speech will never be so complete, so rich. A large vocabulary allows you to express shades of feelings and meanings without resorting to any excesses, briefly and clearly. That is why any educated person needs to constantly expand his vocabulary, learn new words, remember the features of their use and the subtleties of meanings.