‘舍己’ literally means ‘to give up oneself’ — combining 舍 (shě), meaning ‘to abandon’ or ‘to sacrifice’, and 己 (jǐ), meaning ‘oneself’ or ‘one’s own’. Together, they form a compact, formal verb expressing the act of self-sacrifice for a higher cause, moral principle, or others’ well-being. It emphasizes putting others before oneself, often in contexts involving duty, compassion, or heroism.

This term appears frequently in moral education, historical narratives, religious discourse (especially in Christian Chinese texts), and official media praising public servants or medical workers. It carries strong positive connotations and is rarely used in casual speech; instead, it belongs to elevated, literary, or solemn registers. While grammatically a verb, 舍己 often functions as part of larger phrases like 舍己为人 (shě jǐ wèi rén, ‘sacrifice oneself for others’) or as a noun-like subject/object in abstract discussions about virtue.