JLPT N4 · Japanese kanji

自

自 — oneself

Reading
ジ・シ・みずか.ら・おの.ずから・おの.ずと
Meaning
oneself
JLPT level
N4
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

自 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N4 level. Its primary reading is ジ・シ・みずか.ら・おの.ずから・おの.ずと and it means oneself. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

自 appears in everyday japanese words such as 独自 (original), 自主 (independence) and 自信 (self-confidence).

Japanese words containing 自

Frequently asked questions

What does 自 mean in Japanese?

自 means oneself in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N4 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 自 read?

自 is read ジ・シ・みずか.ら・おの.ずから・おの.ずと. Reading it inside real words — 独自 and 自主 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 自 — is it JLPT N4?

Yes. 自 is on the official JLPT N4 kanji 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 独自 (どくじ) — "original". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 自 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese 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 JLPT N4 kanji

Learn every JLPT kanji in context

InputDojo gives you the full JLPT N5–N1 kanji list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Japanese content. Free to start.

Start free