Definitions
(noun,pronoun)
self; oneself
Etymology
Origin unclear. Possibly a pictograph of a silk rope, in which case would be the original form of 紀.
About
The character '己' originated from an early symbolic representation of the self, with its structure consisting of three strokes in its settled form. Etymologically, it is associated with the concept of something tied, reflecting a sense of personal attachment. In early texts, '己' referred to the individual person, and its meaning later extended to include reflexive pronouns and philosophical notions of self-cultivation, particularly within Confucian ethics where it denotes the self as a subject for moral refinement. The character's composition remains simple, without additional semantic components in its modern form, and it functions as a radical in compounds related to identity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我自己去上学。
他喜欢自己读书。
我们应该相信自己。
孩子学会了自己穿鞋。
她总是先帮助别人再帮助自己。
在困难时期，人们必须依靠自己。
了解自己的优点和缺点很重要。
他坚持己见，不愿接受别人的意见。