Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
自zìself; oneself
自 is a single shape of 6 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from a nose. The usual explanation is that people point to their nose to mean “me”, so it came to mean “self”.
动dòngto move
云cloud · yún
力strength · lìMeaning part
Memory aidStrength 力 makes things move. In the full form 動, 重 (zhòng) gave the sound.
How to write 自动
自 6 strokes · 动 6 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 自动 (zìdòng). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
自动 (zìdòng) means “automatic” or “voluntarily”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it zìdòng: zì with a 4th tone, then dòng with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 自动 is written 自動. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type zidong with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 自动 from the suggestions. Typing zidong into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
自动 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
Turn words into conversations
A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.
Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
自zì4th tone, falling
