自ずから

おのずから · onozukara · JLPT N1 · adverb

naturally

自 (self) + ずから (from): arising from itself, so naturally or of its own accord

Read it as from oneself: the word describes something that happens by its own source, with no outside push. That is why it means naturally or as a matter of course.

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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