When the formation data identifies 自 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
自
Radical 132 of 214 · 6 strokes
Self
zì
Unicode uses 自 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is self, private, personal; from; Kangxi radical 132. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
2 course characters22 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
2 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 2 characters.
自zìself; private, personal; fromDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a nose. Original form of 鼻 (nose). In China, when people point to themselves, they typically point to their nose.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 自 self
- Visual structure
- 目
HSK words with 自21 words in this course
臭chòuto reek, to smell, to stinkDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: The smell 自 of a dirty dog 犬
- Category radical
- 自 self
- Visual structure
- 自 + 犬
HSK words with 臭1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.