Recognize 自 in words such as 自分 and 自転車; connect each complete word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 自分 (じぶん) and 自転車 (じてんしゃ). 自 has 6 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
自分じぶんoneself
自転車じてんしゃbicycle
自然しぜんnature

Examples

  • 自分じぶんで朝あさご飯はんを作つくります。I make breakfast myself.
  • 自分じぶんの名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your own name.
  • 自転車じてんしゃで駅えきまで行いきます。I go to the station by bicycle.
  • 新あたらしい自転車じてんしゃを買かいました。I bought a new bicycle.
  • ここは自然しぜんが豊ゆたかです。Nature is abundant here.
  • 自然しぜんの中なかを歩あるきます。I walk in nature.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

自分 (じぶん) means oneself; 自転車 (じてんしゃ) means bicycle. Learn the reading with the whole word. 自分 refers back to a person; who that is depends on the context, so it does not always mean “I”. 自 has an extra short stroke at the top compared with 目.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 自分 in hiragana.

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    じぶん

    自分 is read じぶん and means oneself. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 自転車 in hiragana.

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    じてんしゃ

    自転車 is read じてんしゃ and means bicycle. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿然（しぜん）.

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    自

    自 completes 自然, read しぜん; the completed word means nature.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 自 from memory, and read 自分 and 自転車 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.