Writing
自 (zì) — how to say "self" in Chinese
自
Self, oneself
preposition
Radicals / Keys
自
Self
#132 · zì · 6 strokes
Synonyms
己
self, oneself
jǐ · literary, in set phrases
自身
oneself, self
zì shēn · standalone, emphatic
Collocations
自问
zì wèn
to ask oneself
Examples
他自言自语，不知道在说什么。
He talks to himself, unclear what he's saying.
我自己做。
I do it myself.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say "self" in Chinese?
"self" in Chinese is 自 (zì).
Zi meaning Chinese
自 (zì) means "Self, oneself".
How is 自 pronounced?
It is pronounced zì (written as zi). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
Self in Chinese characters
It is written 自 and has 6 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order and lets you trace it.
What HSK 3.0 level is 自?
自 is on the HSK 3.0 level 4 word list. It is not part of the six-level HSK 2.0 lists.
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Grammar with 自
来自 — to come from
Subj. + 来自 (láizì) + Place / Source
自从 — ever since
自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb
所 — so-called
所谓 (suǒwèi) + Noun Phrase
自己 — reflexive and emphatic self
Subject + 自己 (zìjǐ) + Verb / Verb + 自己 (zìjǐ) / 自己的 (zìjǐ de) + Noun
就是说 — in other words
就是说 (jiù shì shuō) / 这就是说 (zhè jiù shì shuō) + Explanation
亲自 — doing it in person
Subject + 亲自 (qīnzì) + Verb Phrase