A plan, a habit, a rule, or even an argument is self-defeating when it makes the problem worse, or causes the very trouble you were trying to stop. You stay up all night to do well, then fall asleep in the exam: the method fights itself. You shout so that people will listen, and they stop listening because you shouted.

A plan, a habit, a rule, or even an argument一個計畫、習慣、規則，甚至一個論點， is self-defeating叫做self-defeating（弄巧成拙的） when it makes the problem worse如果它讓問題變得更糟， or causes the very trouble you were trying to stop或造成了你本來想要避免的那個麻煩。You stay up all night to do well你為了考好整晚不睡， then fall asleep in the exam結果考試時卻睡著了： the method fights itself這個方法在扯自己後腿。You shout so that people will listen你大吼是希望別人聽你說話， and they stop listening because you shouted結果別人卻因為你大吼而不想聽了。

The word is a describing word, a little formal, common in essays, psychology, and grown-up advice. People also call an argument self-defeating when it knocks down its own point.

The word is a describing word這個字是個形容詞， a little formal有點正式， common in essays, psychology, and grown-up advice常出現在論說文、心理學和給大人的建議裡。People also call an argument self-defeating人們也會說一個論點是self-defeating， when it knocks down its own point如果它自己打倒了自己的論點。

Though actually, it does not mean “you lost” or “you are a loser.” Defeat here is what the action does to your own goal. The feeling is: this way of fixing it is the leak.

Though actually不過事實上， it does not mean “you lost” or “you are a loser.”它不是說「你輸了」或「你是魯蛇」。Defeat here這裡的defeat（打敗） is what the action does to your own goal指的是這個行為對你自己目標所做的事。The feeling is那種感覺是： this way of fixing it is the leak你用來解決問題的這個方法，本身就是那個漏洞。

A self-fulfilling story makes itself come true; a self-defeating one makes itself fail. Keep the picture: you are on both sides of the match, and your move helps the other side — which is still you.

A self-fulfilling story self-fulfilling（自我實現）的說法 makes itself come true會讓自己成真； a self-defeating one self-defeating的說法 makes itself fail則會讓自己失敗。Keep the picture記住這個畫面： you are on both sides of the match你同時站在比賽的兩邊， and your move helps the other side而你自己的招數卻幫了對方— — which is still you而對方也還是你自己。