This is the adjective for a person, an action, or a reason that is driven by what the person gains. 'A self-interested decision' is one made because it helps the decider. It is quieter and more formal than 'selfish'.

This is the adjective for a person, an action, or a reason這是用來形容一個人、一個行為，或一個理由的形容詞that is driven by what the person gains是被這個人能得到的好處所驅使的。'A self-interested decision' is one made'A self-interested decision'（出於私利的決定）指的是做的決定because it helps the decider因為對做決定的人有好處。It它than比'selfish'is quieter and more formal更冷靜、更正式。

If you call someone selfish, you are being rude to their face and talking about who they are. If you call their decision self-interested, you sound like an analyst: you are simply naming the motive, and it is a criticism you can make in a meeting or a newspaper without shouting. That coolness is exactly why writers reach for it.

If you call someone selfish如果你說一個人selfish（自私），you are being rude to their face你是在當面說他無禮and talking about who they are而且是在說他這個人本身。If you call their decision self-interested如果你說他們的決定是self-interested，you sound like an analyst你聽起來像個分析師：you are simply naming the motive你只是點出動機，and it is a criticism you can make in a meeting or a newspaper without shouting這是一種可以在會議或報紙上心平氣和說出口的批評。That coolness is exactly why writers reach for it正是這種冷靜的語氣，讓寫作的人喜歡用這個詞。

It appears most in serious writing — politics, business, philosophy — and it is often used about groups and institutions, not just people: self-interested politicians, self-interested lobbying, self-interested behaviour. It usually leans negative, because pointing out someone's motive is usually a way of doubting them.

It appears most in serious writing它最常出現在嚴肅的寫作裡——politics, business, philosophy政治、商業、哲學——and it is often used about groups and institutions, not just people而且常常用在描述團體和機構，不只是個人：self-interested politiciansself-interested politicians（自利的政客）、self-interested lobbyingself-interested lobbying（自利的遊說）、self-interested behaviourself-interested behaviour（自利的行為）。It usually leans negative它通常偏負面，because pointing out someone's motive is usually a way of doubting them因為點出某人的動機，通常就是在質疑他們。

But in economics it is used flatly, with no blame at all: a model may simply assume 'rational, self-interested actors', meaning people who choose what is best for themselves.

But in economics但在經濟學裡，it is used flatly, with no blame at all這個詞用得很平淡，完全沒有責怪的意思：a model may simply assume一個模型可能就只是假設'rational, self-interested actors'「rational, self-interested actors」（理性、自利的行為者），meaning people who choose what is best for themselves意思是會為自己選擇最好選項的人。

Note the shape too — it sits before a noun very comfortably, and after 'be' as well: 'his motives were purely self-interested'.

Note the shape too也要注意它的用法——it sits before a noun very comfortably它可以很自然地放在名詞前面，and after 'be' as well也可以放在'be'動詞後面：'his motives were purely self-interested''his motives were purely self-interested'（他的動機完全是出於私利）。