自 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N4)
What it means
At its core, 自 is about the self — you, yourself, your own. You'll meet it constantly in 自分 ("oneself, myself"), the word Japanese learners use almost daily. From there, 自 stretches into a second, very handy sense: "auto-" or "by itself." A machine that moves by itself is 自動車 (じどうしゃ, "automobile"), and a cycle you power yourself is 自転車 (じてんしゃ, "bicycle"). Once you connect these two ideas — self and acting on its own — a whole family of words opens up: 自由 ("freedom," literally "from oneself"), 自然 ("nature," what exists of its own accord), and 自国 ("one's own country").
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| on'yomi | ジ | 自分 (oneself), 自転車 (bicycle), 自動車 (automobile), 自由 (freedom) |
| on'yomi | シ | 自然 (しぜん, nature) |
| kun'yomi | みずか.ら | 自ら (みずから, by oneself — formal) |
Unlike many kanji, 自 leans on its on'yomi almost everywhere. The main reading is ジ, and it covers the words you'll use every day (自分, 自転車, 自由). The second on'yomi シ is rarer and shows up most famously in 自然 (しぜん, "nature") — worth memorizing as a set phrase. The kun'yomi みずか.ら (自ら) does exist, but it's formal and bookish, so you'll see it far less often than the compounds.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 6, written top to bottom — start with the short stroke on top, then the outer box, then the inner horizontal lines from top to bottom.
- Radical: 自 is its own radical, the "self" radical (みずから / nose). Historically the shape was a drawing of a nose — and even today some Japanese speakers point to their own nose to mean "me," which is a charming echo of this kanji's origin.
Picturing the nose is a genuinely useful memory hook: when you want to indicate yourself, you point at your nose — and that nose is 自.
Common words using 自
Notice the reading split in action: nearly every common word takes ジ (自分, 自転車, 自動車, 自由), while 自然 quietly switches to シ (しぜん). That one exception is the main thing to lock in.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは自分の名前を漢字で書けます。
ヤッタンは じぶんの なまえを かんじで かけます。
Yattan can write his own name in kanji.
自分 — the on'yomi ジ reading, in the everyday word for 'oneself'.
弟は毎日自転車で学校へ行きます。
おとうとは まいにち じてんしゃで がっこうへ いきます。
My little brother goes to school by bicycle every day.
自転車 (じてんしゃ) — 自 keeps the ジ reading, meaning a cycle you power yourself.
先生は「自然の中で休むのは気持ちいいですね」と言いました。
せんせいは「しぜんの なかで やすむのは きもちいいですね」と いいました。
Sensei said, Resting out in nature feels wonderful, doesn't it.
自然 (しぜん) — here 自 uses the rarer on'yomi シ. A great word to remember the exception.
Quick recap
- 自 = oneself / self, and "auto- / by itself" in compounds; 6 strokes; it's the "self" radical.
- ジ is the main reading — 自分, 自転車, 自動車, 自由 all use it.
- シ appears in 自然 (しぜん, "nature"); the kun'yomi みずか.ら (自ら) is formal and rare.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 自 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 自 in 自分 vs 自然?
In 自分 it's the on'yomi ジ (自分 = じぶん, 'oneself'). In 自然 it's the rarer on'yomi シ (自然 = しぜん, 'nature'). ジ is by far the more common reading.
How many strokes does 自 have?
自 has 6 strokes and is its own radical — the 'self' radical, which historically depicted a nose.
Why does 自 mean both 'self' and 'auto-'?
The core idea is 'by oneself.' A car that moves by itself is 自動車 (automobile), and freedom that comes from oneself is 自由. So 'self' naturally extends to 'automatic / on its own.'
When do I use the reading みずから?
みずから (自ら, 'by oneself, personally') is the kun'yomi. It's formal and literary, so you'll meet it far less often than the ジ compounds — focus on 自分 and 自転車 first.