自己

• Pinyin: zì jǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 自 = pictograph of a nose (people point to their nose to indicate 'self' in Chinese culture); 己 = pictograph meaning 'self'

Meaning

Oneself; self; by oneself. A reflexive pronoun referring to the subject of the sentence.

One of the most frequently used words in Chinese. Used as a pronoun meaning 'oneself' or as an adjective meaning 'own.' Can be placed after other pronouns for emphasis: 我自己 (I myself), 你自己 (you yourself). Also used in the pattern 自己的 (one's own).

Examples

1. 这件事你要自己决定。 You need to decide this matter yourself.
2. 我自己一个人住。 I live alone by myself.
3. 孩子们要学会自己的事情自己做。 Children need to learn to do their own things themselves.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 你要相信自己。(You need to believe in yourself.)
• 这是我自己做的蛋糕。(This is a cake I made myself.)

Don't Say

• 他自己们去了。(Don't add 们 after 自己 — 自己 can already refer to plural subjects. Say 他们自己去了.)

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (self, from) and 己 (self/oneself), both carrying the meaning of 'self.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal