自勝

自勝

1. (literary) to bear or constrain oneself (especially one's emotions)

   • 及見司隸僚屬，皆歡喜不自勝。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     及见司隶僚属，皆欢喜不自胜。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

     Jí jiàn Sīlì liáoshǔ, jiē huānxǐ bù zìshēng.

     By the time (the officials) saw the Sili Xiaowei (Liu Xiu) and his entourage parade past them, all of them were delighted, and none was able to keep the outburst of joy within themselves.

Usually used in the negative to express the sense of " to be not able to bear one's emotions; can't help; to be overwhelmed/overcome with one's emotions".

自勝

1. to overcome oneself; to win over oneself

   • 勝人者有力，自勝者強。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     胜人者有力，自胜者强。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: Tao Te Ching, 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Shèngrén zhě yǒulì, zìshèng zhě qiáng.

     He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.

   • 能勝強敵者，先自勝者也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     能胜强敌者，先自胜者也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Book of Lord Shang, circa 3^rd century BCE, translated based on J.J.L. Duyvendak's version

     Néng shèng qiángdí zhě, xiān zìshèng zhě yě.

     The one who succeeds in conquering a strong enemy is he, who regards it as his first duty to conquer himself.