zi6 ngo5 on1 wai3自我安慰

Jyutpingzi6 ngo5 on1 wai3

Yalejih ngóh ōn wai

動詞

Definition

To comfort oneself, or to regulate one's own mindset and emotions.

colloquialemotiondaily actions

How it's used

Often carries a slightly cynical or dismissive undertone when used to describe someone who is avoiding the truth. It implies that the person is creating a false sense of security or rationalizing a failure to feel better. It is rarely used in a positive or therapeutic sense in casual conversation.

Examples

syu1輸zo2咗bei2比coi3賽zi1之hau6後，keoi5佢wai4唯jau5有zi6自ngo5我on1安wai3慰waa6話zeon6盡zo2咗lik6力。

After losing the match, he could only comfort himself by saying he tried his best.

nei5你m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日zi6自ngo5我on1安wai3慰laa1啦，min6面deoi3對jin6現sat6實hou2好gwo3過。

Stop comforting yourself all the time, it is better to face reality.

Common phrases

seon4純seoi5粹zi6自ngo5我on1安wai3慰

purely self-comforting

zi6自ngo5我on1安wai3慰jat1一faan1番

to comfort oneself for a bit

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the phrasal verb 搵藉口, which specifically means making excuses to shift blame. Self-comfort focuses on internal emotional regulation rather than external justification.