自 zì — self · English

自

zì

self

At a glance · 自

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「自」甲骨文象鼻之形，金文小篆承之，后借为自身。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「自」本为鼻之象形，假借为自己、从、自然。

Structure

象形字，本象鼻形，假借为自身、始、自然，久借不还。

At a glance

Pinyinzì

Radical自

Strokes6

UnicodeU+81EA

Character type象形

Theme人伦

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English self self, private, personal; from; Kangxi radical 132

Français soi / soi-même Soi, soi-même. «好爵自縻» : les honneurs entravent d'eux-mêmes.

Español sí / uno mismo Sí, uno mismo. «好爵自縻»: los honores atan por sí mismos.

العربية نفسه / ذاته نفسه، ذاته. «好爵自縻»: الشرف يربط بذاته.

Русский себя / сам Себя, сам. «好爵自縻»: почести сами связывают.

Common words

自己zì jǐself
自然zì ránnature

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