HSK 2 · Chinese hanzi

自

自 — self

Reading
zì
Meaning
self; from; since
HSK level
HSK 2
Language
Chinese

About this hanzi

自 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 2 level. Its primary reading is zì and it means self; from; since. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

自 appears in everyday chinese words such as 自 (from, since), 自己 (oneself) and 来自 (to come from).

Chinese words containing 自

Frequently asked questions

What does 自 mean in Chinese?

自 means self; from; since in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 2 hanzi every learner meets at that level.

How is 自 read?

自 is read zì. Reading it inside real words — 自 and 自己 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 自 — is it HSK 2?

Yes. 自 is on the official HSK 2 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 自 in a word?

A common word containing 自 is 自 (zì) — "from, since". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 自 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 自 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More HSK 2 hanzi

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