自
oneself
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of nose. From pointing to one's nose to indicate self.
Symbolism
Self, nature, freedom. Represents individual autonomy.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
自家撞着
じかどうちゃく
self-contradiction; self-contradiction
自画自賛
じがじさん
singing one's own praises; praising one's own wares; singing one's own praises
自給自足
じきゅうじそく
self-sufficiency; self-sufficiency
自業自得
じごうじとく
paying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); paying for one's mistakes
自己暗示
じこあんじ
autosuggestion; self-suggestion; autosuggestion
自己犠牲
じこぎせい
self-sacrifice; self-renunciation; self-sacrifice
自己嫌悪
じこけんお
self-hatred; self-abhorrence; self-loathing; self-hatred
自己中心
じこちゅうしん
selfishness; egotism; egoism; selfishness
自然淘汰
しぜんとうた
natural selection; natural selection
自縄自縛
じじょうじばく
being caught in one's own trap; being hoisted by one's own petard; being caught in one's own trap
自分勝手
じぶんかって
selfishness; egotism; egoism; selfishness
自暴自棄
じぼうじき
desperation; despair; self-abandonment; desperation
自由自在
じゆうじざい
free; unrestricted; (with) complete mastery; free
自由貿易
じゆうぼうえき
free trade; free trade
伸縮自在
しんしゅくじざい
elastic; flexible; telescoping; elastic
泰然自若
たいぜんじじゃく
having presence of mind; self-possessed; imperturbable; having presence of mind
変幻自在
へんげんじざい
phantasmagoric; protean; shape-shifting; phantasmagoric
民族自決
みんぞくじけつ
self-determination of peoples; self-determination of peoples
夜郎自大
やろうじだい
throwing one's weight around without knowing one's limitations; Yelang thinks too highly of itself; throwing one's weight around without knowing one's limitations
悠々自適
ゆうゆうじてき
living a life of leisure with dignity; living quietly and comfortably free from worldly cares; otium cum dignitate; living a life of leisure with dignity
茫然自失
ぼうぜんじしつ
stupor; stupefaction; trance; stupor
独立自尊
どくりつじそん
(spirit of) independence and self-respect; (spirit of) independence and self-respect
自己欺瞞
じこぎまん
self-deception; self-deceit; self-deception
自己顕示
じこけんじ
making oneself conspicuous; pressing one's own cause; making oneself conspicuous
自由放任
じゆうほうにん
laissez-faire; non-intervention; laissez-faire
自学自習
じがくじしゅう
teaching oneself; learning by oneself; self-study; teaching oneself
自浄作用
じじょうさよう
autopurificatory activity (in the natural world); autopurificatory activity (in the natural world)
自問自答
じもんじとう
answering one's own question; wondering to oneself; soliloquizing; answering one's own question
自壊作用
じかいさよう
(the act of) disintegration; (the act of) disintegration
活殺自在
かっさつじざい
the power of life or death; the power of life or death
神色自若
しんしょくじじゃく
perfect composure; calm and collected; perfect composure
自己弁護
じこべんご
self-justification; excuse; self-justification
自己満足
じこまんぞく
self-satisfaction; (self-)complacency; smugness; self-satisfaction
自己矛盾
じこむじゅん
self-contradiction; paradox; antinomy; self-contradiction
隠忍自重
いんにんじちょう
(behaving with) patience and prudence; putting up with something; (behaving with) patience and prudence
緩急自在
かんきゅうじざい
varying the tempo or speed (of something) at will; varying the tempo or speed (of something) at will
自家薬籠
じかやくろう
(something that is) available for use at any time; (someone who is) at one's beck and call; (something over which) one has complete mastery; (something that is) available for use at any time
自己韜晦
じことうかい
concealing one's talents, position, status, intentions, etc.; concealing one's talents, position, status, intentions, etc.
自由奔放
じゆうほんぽう
free and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling; free and uncontrolled
自由闊達
じゆうかったつ
free and easy; open and natural; not fastidious; free and easy
自力更生
じりきこうせい
working out one's salvation by own efforts; rehabilitating oneself by one's own efforts; rectifying one's ways of life without relying on others' help; working out one's salvation by own efforts
無為自然
むいしぜん
abandoning artifice and just being oneself; doing nothing and taking things as they come; unconditioned nature; abandoning artifice and just being oneself
闊達自在
かったつじざい
broad-minded and free in disposition; large-hearted and not scrupulous about trifles; broad-minded and free in disposition
自己演出
じこえんしゅつ
author directing or producing his or her own play (film); staging oneself for effect; presenting oneself in a favorable light; author directing or producing his or her own play (film)
自己陶酔
じことうすい
narcissism; self-absorption; self-intoxication; narcissism
自己撞着
じこどうちゃく
self-contradiction; self-inconsistency; self-contradiction
自作自演
じさくじえん
performing a part in one's own play; playing a musical piece that one has written; doing everything by oneself (from preparation to execution); performing a part in one's own play
縦横自在
じゅうおうじざい
freely; right and left; active without any restraint; freely
出没自在
しゅつぼつじざい
appearing and disappearing at will; elusive; phantom-like; appearing and disappearing at will
従容自若
しょうようじじゃく
having presence of mind; imperturbable; calm and self-possessed; having presence of mind
独立自存
どくりつじそん
independence and self-reliance; independence and self-reliance
改過自新
かいかじしん
changing one's attitude or conduct and making a new start; turning over a new leaf; changing one's attitude or conduct and making a new start
天然自然
てんねんしぜん
natural; naturally; natural
冷暖自知
れいだんじち
spiritual enlightenment only comes through personal experience; spiritual enlightenment only comes through personal experience