Word

自 (zì) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

Meaning of 自

介 jiè preposition

from

自古以来，中国人就重视教育。

zì gǔ yǐ lái zhōng guó rén jiù zhòng shì jiào yù

Since ancient times, Chinese people have valued education.

Word breakdown

自 zì — from

1 自己 zì jǐ — oneself HSK 2
- 自 self
- 己 oneself
Example

你要相信自己。

nǐ yào xiāng xìn zì jǐ

You must believe in yourself.
2 来自 lái zì — to come from HSK 3
- 来 to come
- 自 from
Example

她来自北京。

tā lái zì Běi jīng

She comes from Beijing.
3 自行车 zì xíng chē — bicycle HSK 3
- 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.
4 大自然 dà zì rán — nature HSK 4
- 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.
5 自习 zì xí — self-study HSK 4
- 自 self, by oneself
- 习 study, practice
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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6 自信 zì xìn — confidence HSK 4
- 自 self, oneself
- 信 confidence, trust
Example

她说话时充满自信。

tā shuō huà shí chōng mǎn zì xìn

She speaks with confidence.
7 自学 zì xué — to teach oneself HSK 4
- 自 self, oneself
- 学 to study, to learn
Example

我正在自学西班牙语。

wǒ zhèng zài zì xué xī bān yá yǔ

I am teaching myself Spanish.
8 自然 zì rán — nature HSK 4
- 自 self, by itself
- 然 so, thus, in that manner
Example

他喜欢接近自然。

tā xǐ huan jiē jìn zì rán

He likes to get close to nature.
9 亲自 qīn zì — personally HSK 5
- 亲 personal, intimate (emphasizes direct involvement)
- 自 self, oneself (reinforces personal action)
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.
10 出自 chū zì — to originate from HSK 5
- 出 to come out, to emerge
- 自 from (indicating source)
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.
11 各自 gè zì — each, respectively HSK 5
- 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.
12 独自 dú zì — alone HSK 5
- 独 alone, solitary
- 自 self, oneself
Example

我喜欢独自旅行。

wǒ xǐ huan dú zì lǚ xíng

I like traveling alone.
13 自从 zì cóng — since, ever since HSK 5
- 自 from (indicating starting point in time)
- 从 from (emphasizing origin or beginning)
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.
14 自动 zì dòng — automatically HSK 5
- 自 self, by itself
- 动 move, motion
Example

门会自动打开。

mén huì zì dòng dǎ kāi

The door will open automatically.
15 自由 zì yóu — free HSK 5
- 自 self, oneself
- 由 from, through, without constraint
Example

他过着自由的生活。

tā guò zhe zì yóu de shēng huó

He lives a free life.
16 自觉 zì jué — conscientious; self-aware; conscious HSK 5
- 自 self; oneself
- 觉 awareness; consciousness
Example

学生们应该自觉遵守纪律。

xuéshēngmen yīnggāi zì jué zūnshǒu jìlǜ

Students should consciously follow the rules.
17 自身 zì shēn — oneself HSK 5
- 自 self, indicates reflexivity
- 身 body, self, the person or entity itself
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.
18 自助 zì zhù — self-service HSK 6
- 自 self, oneself
- 助 help, assist, service
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.
19 自律 zì lǜ — self-discipline HSK 6
- 自 self, oneself
- 律 discipline, regulate
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.
20 自愿 zì yuàn — voluntary; to volunteer HSK 6
- 自 self; oneself
- 愿 willing; wish
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.
21 自我 zì wǒ — self HSK 6
- 自 self, oneself
- 我 I, me (reinforces personal identity)
Example

自我反省很重要。

zì wǒ fǎn xǐng hěn zhòng yào

Self-reflection is very important.
22 自杀 zì shā — to commit suicide HSK 6
- 自 self
- 杀 to kill
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.
23 自来水 zì lái shuǐ — tap water HSK 6
- 自 self, automatically
- 来 come, arrive
- 水 water
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.
24 自言自语 zì yán zì yǔ — talk to oneself HSK 6
- 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.
25 自豪 zì háo — proud HSK 6
- 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.
26 不由自主 bù yóu zì zhǔ — involuntarily; cannot help oneself HSK 7
- 不 not; negation particle
- 由 from; by; through
- 自 self; oneself
- 主 control; master; be in charge
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.
27 怡然自得 yí rán zì dé — content and at ease HSK 7
- 怡 pleasant, joyful
- 然 state or manner suffix
- 自 self, oneself
- 得 to obtain, to gain satisfaction
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.
28 情不自禁 qíng bù zì jīn — cannot help but HSK 7
- 情 emotion, feeling
- 不 not, cannot
- 自 self, oneself
- 禁 restrain, control, prohibit
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.
29 擅自 shàn zì — without authorization, on one's own authority, arbitrarily HSK 7
- 擅 to arrogate to oneself, to take authority without permission
- 自 self, on one's own, by oneself
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.
30 私自 sī zì — without authorization; privately HSK 7
- 私 private, secret, unauthorized
- 自 by oneself, on one's own initiative
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.
31 自主 zì zhǔ — autonomous; independent; act independently HSK 7
- 自 self; oneself
- 主 master; control; be in charge
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.
32 自以为是 zì yǐ wéi shì — self-righteous; think oneself always in the right HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 以 to regard as, to take
- 为 to be, as
- 是 correct, right
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.
33 自力更生 zì lì gēng shēng — self-reliance HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 力 strength, power, force
- 更 renew, regenerate, again
- 生 life, livelihood, living
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.
34 自卑 zì bēi — inferior, having an inferiority complex HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 卑 low, inferior, base
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.
35 自卫 zì wèi — self-defense HSK 7
- 自 self
- 卫 defend, guard, protect
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.
36 自发 zì fā — spontaneous HSK 7
- 自 self, from oneself
- 发 emit, initiate, arise
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.
37 自在 zì zài — at ease HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 在 state of being, exist
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.
38 自如 zì rú — with ease, freely HSK 7
- 自 self, naturally, spontaneously
- 如 as, like, according to
Example

他说英语很自如。

tā shuō yīng yǔ hěn zì rú

He speaks English with ease.
39 自始至终 zì shǐ zhì zhōng — from beginning to end; from start to finish; throughout HSK 7
- 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.
40 自尊 zì zūn — self-respect HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 尊 respect, honor, esteem
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.
41 自强不息 zì qiáng bù xī — strive continuously for self-improvement HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 强 strengthen, make strong
- 不 not, do not
- 息 cease, stop, rest
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.
42 自治区 zì zhì qū — autonomous region HSK 7
- 自 self, autonomous
- 治 govern, administer
- 区 region, district
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.
43 自满 zì mǎn — complacent HSK 7
- 自 self
- 满 satisfied/full
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.
44 自然界 zì rán jiè — natural world HSK 7
- 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.
45 自然而然 zì rán ér rán — naturally; as a matter of course HSK 7
- 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.
46 自理 zì lǐ — take care of oneself HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 理 manage, take care of
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.
47 自相矛盾 zì xiāng máo dùn — self-contradictory, to contradict oneself HSK 7
- 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.
48 自私 zì sī — selfish HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 私 private, personal interests
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.
49 自称 zì chēng — to call oneself; self-proclaimed HSK 7
- 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.
50 自立 zì lì — be self-reliant HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 立 stand, establish
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.
51 自行 zì xíng — by oneself; on one's own HSK 7
- 自 self; oneself
- 行 to carry out; to do
Example

你可以自行决定。

nǐ kě yǐ zì xíng jué dìng

You can decide by yourself.
52 自负 zì fù — to take upon oneself, to be responsible for (by oneself) HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 负 to bear, to carry (an inflated sense of one's abilities)
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.
53 自责 zì zé — to blame oneself HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 责 blame, reproach
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.
54 自费 zì fèi — pay at one's own expense HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself
- 费 expense, cost, fee
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.
55 自首 zì shǒu — to turn oneself in HSK 7
- 自 self, oneself (indicating voluntary action)
- 首 to confess, to report (a crime to authorities)
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.
56 顺其自然 shùn qí zì rán — let nature take its course HSK 7
- 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.