JLPT · Level 44
45 words
Japanese word
ひとりでに
Pronunciation
Romajihitorideni
Meaning
- adverbby itself
Example
ドアがひとりでに開きます。do a ga hi to ri de ni hira ki ma su
The door opens by itself.
More examples
古い時計の針が夜中にひとりでに動きました。furu i tokei no hari ga yo naka ni hi to ri de ni ugo ki ma shi ta
The hands of the old clock moved by themselves in the middle of the night.
Core concept
Presents an event as arising without a visible agent, whether through natural change or automatic operation.
Common phrases
ひとりでに開くhi to ri de ni hira ku
open by itself
ひとりでに動くhi to ri de ni ugo ku
move by itself
ひとりでに止まるhi to ri de ni to ma ru
stop by itself
ひとりでに消えるhi to ri de ni ki e ru
disappear by itself
Similar words
自然とshizento: An event develops or occurs without deliberate human action.
勝手にkatteni: An event occurs without being directed or controlled by a person, often contrary to intention.
おのずとonozuto: A result follows from the situation without direct effort or control.
Definition in Japanese
他から力を加えたり手を加えたりしなくても、物事が自然に起こるさま。hoka ka ra chikara o kuwa e ta ri te o kuwa e ta ri shi na ku te mo mono goto ga shi zen ni o ko ru sa ma
Word origin
ひとりでに (hitori de ni) is built from ひとり (hitori, "alone"), で (de, "in a state"), and に (ni, an adverbial particle), so the phrase denotes something happening in an unassisted state.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, ひとりでに (hitori de ni) is commonly used with an intransitive event such as a door opening, while an action done deliberately by a person is expressed differently.
Other meanings
- automaticallyadverb
- naturallyadverb
Opposites
- 意図的にitotekinideliberatelyadverb