Idiom 成語 5

沾沾自喜 (zhān zhān zì xǐ) means:

👉 to be complacent / self-satisfied / smug

It describes someone who is quietly pleased with themselves, often in an excessive or slightly negative way, usually because they think they’ve done something well.

Breakdown:
沾沾 – slightly pleased, self-satisfied feeling
自喜 – happy with oneself
English equivalents:
to be smug
to be self-satisfied
to be complacent
to be pleased with oneself (to a fault)