自

zì

self, private, personal; from

Meaning

Point of origin: Spatial or temporal ("from," "since").
The reflexive/personal: "Self," "personally," or "private."
Spontaneous mode: "Of its own accord," "spontaneously," or "naturally."

Grammar and usage

Prepositional: Denotes a starting point; frequently pairs with 至 (to reach) or 以 to establish a range.
Agentive: When modifying a verb, indicates the subject is the sole initiator of the action without external prompting.
Adverbial: Describes a process unfolding without external interference.

Distinctions

Contrast with 己: While both relate to the self, 己 typically refers to the self as an object or distinct entity/ego; 自 emphasizes the reflexive nature of the act or the internal source of the action.

Graphical notes

Originally a pictograph of a nose (pointing to one's nose to indicate the self).

Translator notes

Origin/Autonomy Overlap: The glyph may simultaneously denote that an action originates from a person and therefore occurs spontaneously; be alert where the distinction between "from [a place]" and "of one's own accord" blurs.
Literal Reading: In pre-Qin texts, consider if "nose" is a viable literal reading before defaulting to reflexive or prepositional senses.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.