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自身 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
自身zìshēnitselfHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #5456, Hard
自身zìshēnoneselfHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #5456, Hard
自身zìshēnone's ownHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #5456, Hard
zìshēn(zi4shen1)zi shen T4
  1. 1itself
  2. 2oneself
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

自身zìshēn(zi4shen1)

自身 refers to oneself or one's own being, emphasizing personal identity or self. It is commonly used in contexts discussing personal attributes, self-awareness, or introspection, often in philosophical or psychological discussions.

Strokes13Frequency#5456DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of 自身 is significant in Chinese philosophy, particularly in Daoism, where understanding oneself is seen as key to harmony with nature and society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a mirror reflecting your own image, highlighting your unique self. The character 自 (zi) looks like a person standing alone, while 身 (shen) represents a body, together symbolizing 'yourself.'

Meanings of 自身

zìshēn(zi4shen1)
1itself
2oneself
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 自身

自身Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 自身

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Podcast: 自身

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AI Study Notes for 自身

Quick Contrast

自己 (zìjǐ) emphasizes the self in a more general sense, while 自身 (zìshēn) focuses on one's own being in a more philosophical or introspective context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 自身 (zishen) with other similar terms like 自我 (ziwo), which also means 'self' but carries a more subjective connotation. This term is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 自身 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it helps connect to other self-related terms like 自我 (ziwo, 'self') and 身体 (shenti, 'body'). Focus on using it in sentences to express thoughts about identity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 自身 with 自我, leading to phrases like '自我的身体' (which incorrectly suggests a focus on self-perception rather than just the body). Instead, use '自身的身体' for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 自身

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Component Characters

自zìfrom
HSK 46 strokes自
View full entry
身shēnbody
HSK 47 strokes身
View full entry

How to say itself in Chinese

“itself” in Chinese is自身zìshēn

自身 refers to oneself or one's own being, emphasizing personal identity or self. It is commonly used in contexts discussing personal attributes, self-awareness, or introspection, often in philosophical or psychological discussions.

When to use 自身

Be cautious not to confuse 自身 (zishen) with other similar terms like 自我 (ziwo), which also means 'self' but carries a more subjective connotation. This term is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

自身 or something close to it

自己 (zìjǐ) emphasizes the self in a more general sense, while 自身 (zìshēn) focuses on one's own being in a more philosophical or introspective context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 自身 with 自我, leading to phrases like '自我的身体' (which incorrectly suggests a focus on self-perception rather than just the body). Instead, use '自身的身体' for clarity.

Write 自身

自
身

Practice writing 自身 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 自身

You can say '我们要了解自身的优点和缺点' (We need to understand our own strengths and weaknesses).

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