Onyomi: シ, ジ · Kunyomi: おの.ずから, おの.ずと, みずか.ら · Meanings: oneself
Kanji for oneself
Fast lookup with examples and clean stroke-order visualization.
Experience 自 in 3D! View the complete 3D Kanji model to understand its shape and stroke depth from every angle. Click the button below to see 自 in 3D and explore how each stroke forms this character.
Please support us by sharing!
Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 自.
The kanji 自 originally depicted a nose, which in ancient Chinese culture was used to point to oneself, symbolizing self or one’s own being. Over time, it came to represent the concept of oneself or self-origin. 自 means self, oneself, or naturally, capturing individuality, identity, and inner nature.
A picture of a nose used to point to oneself — 自 means self or oneself.
Imagine pointing to your nose to say “me” — that’s 自, the kanji for self or oneself.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 自 | じ | self- | Prefix |
| 時計 | とけい | clock, watch, timepiece | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 自転車 | じてんしゃ | bicycle, bike | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 自動車 | じどうしゃ | car, automobile, motorcar, motor vehicle, auto | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 自由 | じゆう | freedom, liberty | common JLPT-N4 Noun, Na-adjective (keiyodoshi) |
| 自然 | しぜん | nature | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 自殺 | じさつ | suicide | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 自分 | じぶん | myself, yourself, oneself, himself, herself | common JLPT-N5 Pronoun |
| 自然科学 | しぜんかがく | natural science | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 自治 | じち | self-government, autonomy | common JLPT-N2 Noun |