各自
かくじ · kakuji · JLPT N2 · noun
person
👤 各 = each + 自 = self, so 各自 = each one on their own
The first kanji 各 means each or every, and the second 自 means self. Together they describe each person acting on their own, as in 各自の部屋 (each person's own room). Sound: kaku + ji.
各 — 夂 (foot coming down) + 口 (mouth/enclosure)
Originally depicted a foot (夂) arriving at a dwelling or settlement (口), suggesting 'each one arriving' at their own place. From this came the meaning 'each' or 'every,' emphasizing individual instances. The character is now used purely for this grammatical sense.
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.