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自 (zì) — (preposition) from (indicating a starting point in space or time); (preposition) since (indicating the beginning of a time period up to the present)

Definition

Used in written/formal Chinese to mean 'from' (a place or time) or 'since'. Less common in speech than 从 (cóng) for 'from', and more formal than 自从 for 'since'.

preposition
from (indicating a starting point in space or time)since (indicating the beginning of a time period up to the present)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 自。
    Zhè fēng xìn shì zì shàng hǎi jì lái de.
    This letter was sent from Shanghai.
  • 自，。
    zì Qù nián yǐ lái, wǒ men de xué xiào fā shēng le hěn dà biàn huà.
    Since last year, our school has changed a lot.
  • 自，。
    zì Míng tiān kāi shǐ, wǒ yào zǎo shuì zǎo qǐ.
    Starting from tomorrow, I will go to bed early and get up early.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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