自主性 (zì zhǔ xìng) — autonomy

Definition

A noun meaning 'autonomy' — the quality or capacity of acting independently, making one's own choices. Often collocates with 保障、尊重 to discuss personal or institutional freedom.

noun
autonomy

Examples

  • 自主性。
    Zhè zhǒng zhì dù bǎo zhàng le xué shēng de zì zhǔ xìng.
    This system guarantees the autonomy of students.
  • ，自主性。
    Zài gōng zuò zhōng, tā fēi cháng zhù zhòng gè rén zì zhǔ xìng.
    At work, he greatly values personal autonomy.
  • 自主性。
    zì zhǔ xìng Shì xiàn dài shè huì de yí gè zhòng yào jià zhí guān.
    Autonomy is an important value in modern society.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

自主autonomy
自zìoneself主zhǔgovern
主谓Subject + predicate
性xìngquality

自 means oneself, 主 means to govern, and 性 denotes the quality, giving autonomy.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.