各自 (gè zì) — each (of two or more parties); respective

Definition

各自 is a pronoun meaning 'each (one)' — used for people or groups acting on their own. Unlike 各, it stands alone without a following noun or verb.

pronoun

each (of two or more parties)respective

各自。
gè zì Xuǎn le zì jǐ xǐ huan de yán sè.
Each chose their own favorite color.
，各自。
Kǎo shì jié shù hòu, gè zì ná huí zì jǐ de shì juàn.
After the exam, each took back their own test paper.
各自。
Liǎng wèi lǐng dǎo gè zì biǎo dá le bù tóng de yì jiàn.
The two leaders each expressed different opinions.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

各 (each) and 自 (self) combine to mean each one's own.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

夂口各

各 shows a sole of a foot (夂) coming into an entrance (口), for the sense of coming or entering.

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.

Appears in