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 stylized pictogram of the human nose, an image which gradually condensed into its modern configuration. From this concrete reference, the character acquired the abstract meaning of 'self' or 'oneself', a semantic shift thought to be connected to the habitual gesture of indicating oneself by touching the nose. In its role as a semantic component, it contributes this sense of self or, in some cases, its original nasal connotation to compound characters, such as in '息' where it relates to breath. Over centuries, its conceptual domain extended further to function as a preposition meaning 'from' or 'since', thereby linking the idea of origin directly to the self, while its pictorial form stabilized quite early and has persisted without major alteration.
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。