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In Chinese, 自慰 means '(of a person, genderless) to masturbate', and it also means 'to console oneself'.

I took it as an extension of 'God helps whose who help themselves' for a certain period of time.

I just wonder in English, whether such a word exists?

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  • The second part of the question is off topic; it is not about English but about ethics, philosophy, religion and other domains of human thought.
    – LPH
    Oct 12, 2021 at 10:41
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    The term "practicing self-love" can be interpreted both ways. But this would not be a common double entendre.
    – GArthurBrown
    Oct 12, 2021 at 10:50
  • Off-topic content removed from the question.
    – Steven Liang
    Oct 12, 2021 at 11:51
  • I'm not sure exactly what "console oneself" means here, as it can refer both to deep pain and to more trivial things. Merriam-Webster gives "to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of" but it doesn't always refer to comforting bereavement or deep sadness, and can refer e.g. to consoling yourself with a beer after your football team loses. ("self-love" is good though, and can refer both to profound respect for oneself and a bit of pampering.)
    – Stuart F
    Oct 12, 2021 at 12:30
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    I can't quite find the support for it, but I've heard take care of yourself/myself as a polite euphemism for masturbation, in addition to being (a) a literal recommendation to take care of yourself and (b) (with yourself) an idiomatic farewell.
    – TaliesinMerlin
    Oct 12, 2021 at 21:07

1 Answer 1

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Something that comes fairly close to the Chinese with two meanings, one general and one specific, is

self-gratification (n.)

The act of pleasing oneself or of satisfying one's desires
especially: the satisfying of one's own sexual urges m-w

Self-satisfaction.
(euphemistic) Masturbation. Wiktionary

Gratify is close to console:

Console and gratify are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Console" instead a verb "Gratify". "Console and Gratify—Related words—mutual synonyms", Thesaurus.plus

The failure I suffer reinforce my position. I feel sorry for myself, and this self-gratification consoles me for all the reverses I suffer. Tzvetan Todorov; Life in Common: An Essay in General Anthropology, p.106

I don't care what the doctor, your friend, or anyone else tells you; this is against God. This is self-gratification, and God does not approve. This devil will tell you to console/satisfy yourself. So you want to replace your former boyfriend with your hand or some other object. Evangelist Frances Elbert; Single, Sanctified, and Satisfied

With reference to the OP's request for a popular refrain. When an adult warns a teen that "Too much masturbation will make you blind!", the most popular refrain is "Can I do it just until I need glasses?"

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  • Talented friends from all over the world will always come together to help! : )
    – Steven Liang
    Oct 15, 2021 at 8:23

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