自己
zìjǐ · HSK 2
own
自 (self/nose) + 己 (oneself) = self + oneself → 'oneself, self'
自 originally depicted a nose, which Chinese speakers point to when referring to themselves. Paired with 己 (a pronoun for oneself), the compound doubles down on the meaning of 'self' or 'own'.
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.