自
zì · HSK 4
from
👃 Pictograph of a nose; ancient Chinese pointed to their own nose to say 'self'
自 originally drew a nose, and Chinese speakers still gesture at their nose to mean 'me'. From 'self' it extended to 'from/since' — as in starting from oneself or one's own origin.
自 — pictograph of a nose
自 originally depicted a human nose, shown frontally with the bridge and nostrils. Ancient Chinese pointed to their own nose to mean 'me,' so 自 shifted to mean 'self' or 'oneself.' A new character 鼻 was later created to carry the original 'nose' meaning.