自宅

じたく · jitaku · JLPT N2 · noun

home

自宅 — home

🏠 自 (ji) = self + 宅 (taku) = house, so 自宅 (じたく) is your own house

自宅 is the formal way to say your own home, and it is often used in business or written contexts. Its two kanji combine as self plus house.

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.

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