自
自·self
- On-yomi
- ジシ
- Kun-yomi
- みずか(ら)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自分 | じぶん | oneself |
| 自転車 | じてんしゃ | bicycle |
| 自由 | じゆう | freedom, free |
| 自然 | しぜん | nature |
Example sentences
自分で料理を作りました。
じぶんでりょうりをつくりました。
I cooked the meal myself.
毎日自転車で学校へ行きます。
まいにちじてんしゃでがっこうへいきます。
I go to school by bicycle every day.
この部屋は自由に使っていいですよ。
このへやはじゆうにつかっていいですよ。
You're free to use this room however you like.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 自然 as *じぜん — it is しぜん, one of the few シ readings.
- Using 自分 for 'you' — it points back at the speaker or the sentence's own subject.
Memory aid
Picture it
A simple drawing of a nose — Japanese speakers point at their own nose when they mean 'me'.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 自 mean?