自 means “oneself”

じ · ji

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

みずから, おのずから, おのずと

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジ, シ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 6 strokes

The story

A nose drawn face-on: to this day Japanese people point at their own nose to say "me?" From 自分 oneself to 自転車 a "self-turning vehicle," 自 is where every action begins.

Used in 自分 (jibun, oneself), 自転車 (jitensha, bicycle), and 自由 (jiyuu, freedom)

Words with 自

• 自動車 (じどうしゃ, jidousha): automobile
• 自転車 (じてんしゃ, jitensha): bicycle

More from Motion & Change

• 回 times
• 動 move
• 集 gather
• 別 separate
• 引 pull
• 使 use
• 始 begin
• 終 end
• 止 stop
• 転 revolve
• 起 wake
• 去 leave

Learn 自 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.