概要
詞彙
1. self-seeking
Def.: interested in your own advantage in everything that you do
語意：圖謀私利的
細緻差異：著重點在「意向、關心的方向」(interest)
例句：
A lot of people feel that politicians are just self-seeking opportunists.
【很多人覺得掌權的政客僅僅是圖私利的機會主義分子。】
2. self-serving
Def.: working or acting for your own advantage
語意：追逐私利的
細緻差異：用以描述「動作、行動的目的。」
self-seeking與self-serving似乎可以交互使用。
認真區別細節差異的話，前者著重「意向，」後者則是「動作的動機、動力來源」(motives, or motivation)
例句：
Politicians are seen as corrupt and self-serving.
【政客被視爲追逐私利的腐敗分子】
3. selfish
Def.: Someone who is selfish only thinks of their own advantage
語意：自私的
細緻差異：用以描述人，著重「思考模式。」
例句
(1). The judge told him: "Your attitude shows a selfish disregard for others."
【法官告訴他：「你的態度表明你只顧自己而不顧他人。」】
(2). She never considers anyone but herself - she's totally selfish.
【她從不考慮他人，只關心自己──她澈底自私。】
(3). It's very selfish of him to just expect that Polly will do all the childcare.
【他這樣非常自私，光會期待Polly打點所有照顧孩童／育兒的勞務】
4. self-interested
Def.: considering the advantage to yourself when making decisions, and deciding to do what is best for you
語意：自私自利的
細緻差異：相較selfish帶有明確貶意，self-interested傳達中立的語意，用以描述客觀現象。
經濟學理論所用的詞彙便是「自利」這個詞，請見以下例子(2)、(3)。
例子／例句
(1). self-interested arguing
【基於私利的爭吵（注：關心的重點跟「自身利益有關，」但不排除「促進公益」的可能性）】
(2). Classical economics assumes that humans are rational, self-interested individuals.
【古典經濟學假設人類是理性的、自私的個體。】
(3). Good behaviour may spring from other self-interested motives.
【良好行為可能萌生於其他自利的動機】
結論
本文挑選四個辭意接近，皆可用來描述「自私自利」的形容詞。
可能帶有貶意，也有可能用以描述客觀現象。
區別各詞所指的細緻差異，有助於精進寫作能力，提升閱讀能力。
