Chinese word

自主

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì zhǔ

Meaning

  • adjectiveindependent

Example

他在学习上很自主，总是先完成任务。tā zài xué xí shàng hěn zì zhǔ zǒng shì xiān wán chéng rèn wù

He is very independent in his studies and always completes tasks first.

Illustration for 自主 (independent)

More examples

上课时，他喜欢自主思考问题。shàng kè shí tā xǐ huān zì zhǔ sī kǎo wèn tí

During class, he likes to think about problems independently.

Core concept

A person steers their own actions, makes decisions without being directed, and accepts the results.

Common phrases

  • 自主学习zì zhǔ xué xí

    self-directed learning

  • 自主思考zì zhǔ sī kǎo

    independent thinking

Similar words

主动zhǔ dòng: Willingly starting to act on one's own instead of waiting for instructions.
独立dú lì: Managing matters independently without depending on other people's help.
自觉zì jué: Being conscious of one's own actions and responding in line with that awareness.

Definition in Chinese

不受他人指挥，凭借自身意愿或判断行动并对结果承担责任的。bú shòu tā rén zhǐ huī píng jiè zì shēn yì yuàn huò pàn duàn xíng dòng bìng duì jié guǒ chéng dān zé rèn de

Word origin

自主 (zìzhǔ, "self-directed") combines 自 (zì, "self") + 主 (zhǔ, "one in charge"), presenting a person as the one who directs their own actions.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this adjective commonly comes before words for learning, choosing, and deciding, so it describes control over a process as well as a personal quality.

Other meanings

  • autonomynoun
  • self-reliancenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word