Definitions
(pronoun)
self; oneself
(preposition)
from; since
(adverb)
naturally; automatically
Etymology
Pictograph of a nose. Original form of 鼻 (nose). In China, when people point to themselves, they typically point to their nose.
About
The character "自" originated as a pictogram representing a nose, with its earliest attested meanings referring directly to that organ. Over time, its meaning expanded from the concrete nose to the abstract concept of self, a shift often attributed to the practice of pointing to one's nose to indicate oneself. In its modern structure, it is a simple, indivisible character consisting of six strokes, and it functions as a semantic radical in compounds like "臭", where it contributes the element of smell, a remnant of its original sense. Contemporary usage centers on meanings such as "self", "oneself", or "from", while its ancient association with the nose is largely obsolete except in a few derived terms.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我自己去学校。
他来自美国。
灯自动熄灭了。
自然保护很重要。
不自满才能进步。
她自小就喜欢音乐。
自去年开始，他每天锻炼。
在自然环境中，动物可以自由生活。