Word
自由 (zì yóu) — Chinese word meaning
HSK 5
自由 (zì yóu) is a Chinese word: free. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.
Meaning of 自由
形 xíng adjective
free
他过着自由的生活。
tā guò zhe zì yóu de shēng huó
He lives a free life.
名 míng noun
freedom
每个人都有追求自由的权利。
měi gè rén dōu yǒu zhuī qiú zì yóu de quán lì
Everyone has the right to pursue freedom.
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Word breakdown
自 zì — self, oneself
Words with this character (55)
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Example
你要相信自己。
nǐ yào xiāng xìn zì jǐ
You must believe in yourself.
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Example
她来自北京。
tā lái zì Běi jīng
She comes from Beijing.
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- 自 self (indicating self-propulsion)
- 行 move, travel (indicates movement function)
- 车 vehicle (indicates a wheeled transport)
Example
我每天骑自行车上班。
wǒ měi tiān qí zì xíng chē shàng bān
I ride a bicycle to work every day.
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- 大 great, vast (emphasizes the grandeur and scope of nature)
- 自 self, natural (indicates the inherent, spontaneous quality)
- 然 thus, so (reinforces the natural state of being)
Example
我们应该保护大自然。
wǒ men yīng gāi bǎo hù dà zì rán
We should protect nature.
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Example
晚上我要去图书馆自习。
wǎn shang wǒ yào qù tú shū guǎn zì xí
Tonight I'm going to the library to self-study.
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Example
她说话时充满自信。
tā shuō huà shí chōng mǎn zì xìn
She speaks with confidence.
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Example
我正在自学西班牙语。
wǒ zhèng zài zì xué xī bān yá yǔ
I am teaching myself Spanish.
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Example
他喜欢接近自然。
tā xǐ huan jiē jìn zì rán
He likes to get close to nature.
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Example
经理亲自去机场接客户。
jīng lǐ qīn zì qù jī chǎng jiē kè hù
The manager personally went to the airport to pick up the client.
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Example
这首诗出自唐代诗人李白。
zhè shǒu shī chū zì táng dài shī rén lǐ bái
This poem originates from the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai.
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- 各 each, every - provides the distributive meaning
- 自 self, oneself - adds the reflexive, individual aspect
Example
我们各自回家吧。
wǒ men gè zì huí jiā ba
Let's each go home.
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Example
我喜欢独自旅行。
wǒ xǐ huan dú zì lǚ xíng
I like traveling alone.
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Example
自从搬到这里，我就爱上了这座城市。
zì cóng bān dào zhè lǐ wǒ jiù ài shàng le zhè zuò chéng shì
Since moving here, I've fallen in love with this city.
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Example
门会自动打开。
mén huì zì dòng dǎ kāi
The door will open automatically.
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Example
学生们应该自觉遵守纪律。
xuéshēngmen yīnggāi zì jué zūnshǒu jìlǜ
Students should consciously follow the rules.
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Example
我们要不断提高自身的能力。
wǒ men yào bú duàn tí gāo zì shēn de néng lì
We must continuously improve our own abilities.
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Example
我们去吃自助火锅吧。
wǒ men qù chī zì zhù huǒ guō ba
Let's go eat at a self-service hot pot restaurant.
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Example
他非常自律，每天早上六点起床锻炼。
tā fēi cháng zì lǜ měi tiān zǎo shang liù diǎn qǐ chuáng duàn liàn
He is very self-disciplined, waking up at 6 AM every day to exercise.
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Example
他自愿参加这个项目。
tā zì yuàn cān jiā zhè ge xiàng mù
He volunteered to participate in this project.
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Example
自我反省很重要。
zì wǒ fǎn xǐng hěn zhòng yào
Self-reflection is very important.
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Example
自杀不是解决问题的办法。
zì shā bù shì jiě jué wèn tí de bàn fǎ
Suicide is not a solution to problems.
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Example
这里的自来水很干净。
zhè lǐ de zì lái shuǐ hěn gān jìng
The tap water here is very clean.
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- 自 self, oneself (reflexive)
- 言 speak, words, verbal expression
- 自 self, oneself (repeated for emphasis)
- 语 language, speech, spoken words
Example
他经常自言自语，让人觉得很奇怪。
tā jīng cháng zì yán zì yǔ ràng rén jué de hěn qí guài
He often talks to himself, which makes people feel it's strange.
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- 自 self; indicates the personal/reflexive nature of the pride
- 豪 grand, heroic; conveys the quality and magnitude of pride
Example
我为我的祖国感到自豪。
wǒ wèi wǒ de zǔ guó gǎn dào zì háo
I am proud of my country.
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Example
听到这首歌，她不由自主地哭了起来。
tīng dào zhè shǒu gē tā bù yóu zì zhǔ de kū le qǐ lái
Hearing this song, she involuntarily started crying.
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Example
老人坐在公园里看书，显得怡然自得。
lǎo rén zuò zài gōng yuán lǐ kàn shū xiǎn de yí rán zì dé
The old man sits reading in the park, appearing content and at ease.
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Example
看到这美丽的景色，她情不自禁地笑了。
kàn dào zhè měi lì de jǐng sè tā qíng bù zì jīn de xiào le
Seeing this beautiful scenery, she couldn't help but smile.
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Example
请不要擅自使用我的电脑。
qǐng bù yào shàn zì shǐ yòng wǒ de diàn nǎo
Please don't use my computer without authorization.
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Example
你不能私自使用别人的东西。
nǐ bù néng sī zì shǐ yòng bié rén de dōng xi
You cannot use other people's things without authorization.
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Example
学生应该培养自主学习的能力。
xué shēng yīng gāi péi yǎng zì zhǔ xué xí de néng lì
Students should cultivate the ability to study independently.
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Example
他总是自以为是，从不听别人的意见。
tā zǒng shì zì yǐ wéi shì cóng bù tīng bié rén de yì jiàn
He is always self-righteous and never listens to others' opinions.
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Example
农民们通过自力更生摆脱了贫困。
nóng mín men tōng guò zì lì gēng shēng bǎi tuō le pín kùn
The farmers escaped poverty through self-reliance.
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Example
不要自卑，每个人都有自己的优点。
bú yào zì bēi měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de yōu diǎn
Don't feel inferior, everyone has their own strengths.
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Example
他只是为了自卫才动手的。
tā zhǐ shì wèi le zì wèi cái dòng shǒu de
He only fought back in self-defense.
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Example
学生们自发组织了一个读书会。
xué shēng men zì fā zǔ zhī le yí gè dú shū huì
The students spontaneously organized a reading group.
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Example
退休后，他过得很自在。
tuì xiū hòu tā guò de hěn zì zài
After retirement, he lives very comfortably.
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Example
他说英语很自如。
tā shuō yīng yǔ hěn zì rú
He speaks English with ease.
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- 自 from, since (marks the starting point)
- 始 beginning, start (indicates the commencement)
- 至 to, until (indicates movement toward an endpoint)
- 终 end, finish (indicates the conclusion)
Example
他自始至终都没有放弃。
tā zì shǐ zhì zhōng dōu méi yǒu fàng qì
He never gave up from beginning to end.
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Example
他很自尊，不愿意接受别人的帮助。
tā hěn zì zūn bù yuàn yì jiē shòu bié rén de bāng zhù
He has strong self-respect and is unwilling to accept help from others.
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Example
面对困难，他自强不息，终于成功了。
miàn duì kùn nán tā zì qiáng bù xī zhōng yú chéng gōng le
Facing difficulties, he strove unremittingly and finally succeeded.
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Example
新疆维吾尔自治区是中国最大的省级行政区。
Xīnjiāng Wéiwú'ěr Zìzhìqū shì Zhōngguó zuì dà de shěngjí xíngzhèngqū
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is China's largest provincial-level administrative region.
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Example
他取得了一点成绩就自满了。
tā qǔ dé le yì diǎn chéng jì jiù zì mǎn le
He became complacent after achieving a little success.
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- 自 self, natural (forms 'natural' with 然)
- 然 so, thus (completes 'natural' with 自)
- 界 world, realm, sphere
Example
自然界中有很多神奇的现象。
zì rán jiè zhōng yǒu hěn duō shén qí de xiàn xiàng
There are many miraculous phenomena in the natural world.
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- 自 self; from within
- 然 so; in that way (first occurrence)
- 而 and; connecting particle
- 然 so; in that way (reinforcing repetition)
Example
时间长了，两个人自然而然就成了好朋友。
shí jiān cháng le liǎng gè rén zì rán ér rán jiù chéng le hǎo péng you
Over time, the two naturally became good friends.
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Example
孩子已经三岁了，可以自理生活了。
hái zi yǐ jīng sān suì le kě yǐ zì lǐ shēng huó le
The child is already three years old and can take care of themselves.
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- 自 self, oneself
- 相 mutually, reciprocally
- 矛 spear (representing attack/offense)
- 盾 shield (representing defense)
Example
你的前后说法自相矛盾，应该解释清楚。
nǐ de qián hòu shuō fǎ zì xiāng máo dùn yīng gāi jiě shì qīng chu
Your statements before and after contradict each other, you should explain clearly.
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Example
他太自私了，从不考虑别人的感受。
tā tài zì sī le cóng bù kǎo lǜ bié rén de gǎn shòu
He is too selfish, never considering others' feelings.
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- 自 self; oneself (indicates reflexive action)
- 称 to call; to claim (the action of naming or declaring)
Example
他自称是专家，但实际上并不专业。
tā zì chēng shì zhuān jiā dàn shí jì shàng bìng bù zhuān yè
He claims to be an expert, but actually isn't professional.
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Example
孩子长大了应该学会自立。
hái zi zhǎng dà le yīng gāi xué huì zì lì
When children grow up, they should learn to be self-reliant.
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Example
你可以自行决定。
nǐ kě yǐ zì xíng jué dìng
You can decide by yourself.
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Example
投资有风险，盈亏自负。
tóu zī yǒu fēng xiǎn yíng kuī zì fù
Investment carries risks; profits and losses are your own responsibility.
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Example
不要过度自责，这不是你的错。
bù yào guò dù zì zé zhè bú shì nǐ de cuò
Don't blame yourself too much, it's not your fault.
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Example
她自费参加了这个培训课程。
tā zì fèi cān jiā le zhè ge péi xùn kè chéng
She attended this training course at her own expense.
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Example
律师建议他尽快自首。
lǜ shī jiàn yì tā jǐn kuài zì shǒu
The lawyer advised him to turn himself in as soon as possible.
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- 顺 follow, go along with
- 其 it, its (referring to the situation)
- 自 self, naturally (part of 自然)
- 然 so, thus (completes 自然 meaning 'nature')
Example
他决定顺其自然，不再强求。
tā jué dìng shùn qí zì rán bù zài qiáng qiú
He decided to let nature take its course and stop forcing things.
由 yóu — from, through, without constraint
Words with this character (8)
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- 由 from, originating from (indicates source or cause)
- 于 grammatical particle completing the prepositional structure
Example
由于天气不好，我们取消了旅行。
yóu yú tiān qì bù hǎo wǒ men qǔ xiāo le lǚ xíng
Due to bad weather, we cancelled the trip.
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Example
他没有理由拒绝这个提议。
tā méi yǒu lǐ yóu jù jué zhè ge tí yì
He has no reason to reject this proposal.
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- 由 from; by means of (indicating source or cause)
- 此 this (pointing to something previously mentioned or current)
Example
由此可见，教育很重要。
yóu cǐ kě jiàn jiào yù hěn zhòng yào
From this it can be seen that education is very important.
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Example
这个节日的由来很有趣。
zhè ge jié rì de yóu lái hěn yǒu qù
The origin of this festival is very interesting.
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- 不 not, negation marker
- 由 by, through, control (in this context: having control over)
- 得 potential complement marker (indicates ability or possibility)
Example
看到这个场景，我不由得笑了起来。
kàn dào zhè ge chǎng jǐng wǒ bù yóu de xiào le qǐ lái
Seeing this scene, I couldn't help but laugh.
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Example
听到这首歌，她不由自主地哭了起来。
tīng dào zhè shǒu gē tā bù yóu zì zhǔ de kū le qǐ lái
Hearing this song, she involuntarily started crying.
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Example
我由衷地感谢你的帮助。
wǒ yóu zhōng de gǎn xiè nǐ de bāng zhù
I sincerely thank you for your help.
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8 身不由己 shēn bù yóu jǐ — beyond one's control; involuntary; unable to act of one's own free will HSK 7
- 身 body, oneself, one's person
- 不 not (negation marker)
- 由 by, from, through (indicates agency or source)
- 己 self, oneself (emphasizes personal agency)
Example
在那种情况下，我也是身不由己。
zài nà zhǒng qíng kuàng xià wǒ yě shì shēn bù yóu jǐ
In that situation, I also had no choice.
Structure & writing
自 is a component in 6 characters
自 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order
由 is a component in 12 characters
由 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order