自 (zì) - self & oneself

自Tone 4

zì ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 自

志

自 · zì

self;

oneself;

from;

since;

naturally;

of course

selfoneselffrom

Usage highlights

oneselfselffreedomautomaticnatural

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I introduce myself (自我介绍).
  • He came from Beijing (来自北京).
  • Since ancient times (自古以来).
  • It goes without saying (自不待言).

Collocations

  • oneself(自己)
  • self-introduction(自我介绍)
  • self-confidence(自信)
  • freedom(自由)
  • automatic(自动)
  • self-study(自学)

Idioms

  • Act according to one's own will(自作主张)
  • Self-inflicted suffering(自作自受)
  • Self-reliance(自力更生)
  • Self-evident(不言自明)
  • Pleased with oneself(自鸣得意)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a nose in oracle bone script, as people often point to their nose when referring to themselves.
  • In Confucian thought, self-cultivation (修身) begins with self-awareness, making 自 a foundational concept.
  • Common in Buddhist terms about self-nature (自性) and non-self (无我).

FAQ