出自

• Pinyin: chū zì
• Hanzi breakdown: 出 = to come out; 自 = pictograph of a nose = self/from

Meaning

To come from; to originate from; to be from (a source, author, or origin).

Used to indicate the source or origin of something, especially quotes, works, or ideas. More literary than 来自, often used when citing sources or describing origins of cultural items.

Examples

1. 这句名言出自孔子的论语。 This famous quote comes from Confucius's Analerta.
2. 这幅画出自一位无名画家之手。 This painting is by an unknown artist.
3. 他的成功出自多年的刻苦努力。 His success stems from years of hard work.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, citation, origin

Tone: literary

Do Say

• 这个成语出自三国演义。(This idiom comes from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.)
• 这个设计出自著名建筑师之手。(This design is from a famous architect.)

Don't Say

• 我出自北京 (For where you're from, use 来自 — 出自 is for sources of things, not people's hometowns)

Origin & History

Compound of 出 (to come out) and 自 (from). Literally to come out from.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal