ChiramiN4 kanji · 6 strokes
自 means self
自Real origin
It began as a drawing of a nose. In Japan you point at your nose to say "me": self.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- oneself
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 6
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) みずから mizukara
みずから (mizukara) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: おのずから onozukara, おのずと onozuto
From Chinese (onyomi) ジ ji
ジ (ji) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: シ shi
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
自分 じぶん · jibun
myself, yourself
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Used in 12 kanji
See all 3 at N5 and N4目 Used in 136 kanji
See all 14 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 自 mean?
Right: 自 means self.Not quite: 自 means self.In 自分, which reading does 自 use?
Right. 自分 is read じぶん (jibun): 自 takes ジ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 自分 is read じぶん (jibun): 自 takes ジ, its reading from Chinese.