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出自 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
出自chūzìto come fromHSK 5, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #5728, Hard
chūzì(chu1zi4)chu zi T1
  1. 1to come from
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March 24, 2026

出自chūzì(chu1zi4)

出自 (chūzì) means 'to come from' or 'to originate from'. It is commonly used to indicate the source or origin of a person, object, or idea, often in contexts discussing lineage, background, or the roots of concepts.

Strokes11Frequency#5728DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, understanding someone's origin is often important for social context, such as in discussions about family lineage or regional identity. The phrase can be used to indicate both geographical origins and cultural heritage.

Memory tip

Imagine a tree (出) whose roots (自) are exposed, showcasing where it comes from. The character 出 resembles a person stepping out from a house (出), while 自 suggests the idea of oneself (self), together forming the idea of 'coming from oneself' or 'originating'.

Meanings of 出自

chūzì(chu1zi4)
1to come from
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About 出自

出自Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 出自

Quick Contrast

来源 (láiyuán) — use 出自 when emphasizing the origin or source of a person or idea, while 来源 is more general and can refer to sources of information or materials.

Usage Notes

出自 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is particularly prevalent in written language, such as literature or academic writing. Common mistakes include confusing it with 由来 (yóulái), which also means 'to come from', but carries a slightly different nuance. Pay attention to the tone marks: 出 (chū) is first tone, while 自 (zì) is fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 出自 is not an HSK word, it can be useful for learners at HSK 3 or higher when discussing origins or backgrounds. Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe where someone or something comes from, connecting it to other HSK vocabulary related to identity and history.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 出自 with 由来; for example, using '他由来一个名门望族' instead of '他出自一个名门望族'. Remember, 出自 emphasizes the source, while 由来 might imply the origin's history.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 出自

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Component characters

出chūto go out
HSK 25 strokes凵
View full entry
自zìfrom
HSK 46 strokes自
View full entry

How to say to come from in Chinese

“to come from” in Chinese is出自chūzì

出自 (chūzì) means 'to come from' or 'to originate from'. It is commonly used to indicate the source or origin of a person, object, or idea, often in contexts discussing lineage, background, or the roots of concepts.

When to use 出自

出自 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is particularly prevalent in written language, such as literature or academic writing. Common mistakes include confusing it with 由来 (yóulái), which also means 'to come from', but carries a slightly different nuance. Pay attention to the tone marks: 出 (chū) is first tone, while 自 (zì) is fourth tone.

出自 or something close to it

来源 (láiyuán) — use 出自 when emphasizing the origin or source of a person or idea, while 来源 is more general and can refer to sources of information or materials.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 出自 with 由来; for example, using '他由来一个名门望族' instead of '他出自一个名门望族'. Remember, 出自 emphasizes the source, while 由来 might imply the origin's history.

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出
自

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Frequently asked questions about 出自

You can say, '他出自一个名门望族' (He comes from a distinguished family).

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