self-esteem
self-esteem — noun
1. the way you feel about your own value and abilities — whether you see yourself a
the way you feel about your own value and abilities — whether you see yourself as worthy, capable, and deserving of respect
Nkechi's self-esteem grew after she finished the difficult project on time.
self-esteem grew — following achievement
Constant criticism from a parent can damage a child's self-esteem for years.
collocation: damage someone's self-esteem
João's self-esteem took a hit when he was not chosen for the school team.
Having a supportive group of friends helped Mira rebuild her self-esteem.
Teachers can play a big role in building students' self-esteem.
- self-respect
closer to dignity and moral principles — you can lose self-respect by doing something shameful, while self-esteem is about overall self-worth
- self-worth
nearly identical in meaning, often used in the same contexts; slightly more focused on inherent value as a person
- self-confidence
more about trust in your specific abilities (public speaking, taking exams) rather than your general sense of value
- dignity
broader — refers to being worthy of respect, especially in difficult or humiliating situations
- insecurity
a lasting feeling of uncertainty about your own worth or abilities
- self-doubt
a lack of confidence or trust in yourself, often in specific situations
文法句型
someone's self-esteem
boost/build/raise/damage/lower self-esteem
用法筆記
Uncountable noun. Often used with possessive determiners (his, her, their) and modifying adjectives such as high, low, fragile, and poor. Common verb collocations fall into two groups: those that increase it (boost, build, raise, strengthen) and those that reduce it (damage, lower, shatter, undermine).