自 · zì

self

Radical pronunciation

Radical summary

#132

Kangxi

6

Strokes

#98

Frequency

Visual hint

A human nose seen head-on: a square with a curved top like the bridge and nostrils.

Suggests oneself (ancient Chinese pointed to their nose to mean 'I'), or the preposition 'from/since'.

varies

Trace the radical, simplified, traditional, and variant forms when available.

自

2 examples

自

zì

self; oneself; from/since

HSK 1

息

xī

to breathe; to rest

HSK 4

Self/from radical. Found in 自 (self/from), 息 (breath/rest), 鼻 (nose).

Ancient Chinese pointed to their nose to say 'me' — 自 is the nose shape, meaning 'oneself'.

目: 自 is a nose seen head-on, taller shape; 目 is an eye, wider with two horizontal strokes inside.

What radical is this: 自?