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
自 (zì) as a preposition means 'from' or 'since' a starting point in space or time, used mainly in writing. For 'since' in time, 自从 is more common in modern Chinese, and 以来 follows the time word.
preposition
from (indicating a starting point in space or time)since (indicating the beginning of a time period up to the present)
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
Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.