Chinese word

自助

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì zhù

Meaning

  • adjectiveself-service

Example

超市设有自助结账机。chāo shì shè yǒu zì zhù jié zhàng jī

The supermarket has a self-checkout machine.

Illustration for 自助 (self-service)

More examples

许多酒店提供自助早餐，客人可以自行取用。xǔ duō jiǔ diàn tí gōng zì zhù zǎo cān kè rén ké yǐ zì xíng qǔ yòng

Many hotels offer a self-service breakfast, and guests can serve themselves.

Core concept

A service arrangement in which the customer carries out the task rather than depending on staff.

Common phrases

  • 自助餐厅zì zhù cān tīng

    self-service restaurant

  • 自助结账机zì zhù jié zhàng jī

    self-checkout machine

  • 自助洗衣店zì zhù xǐ yī diàn

    self-service laundromat

Similar words

自动zì dòng: Describes equipment that starts and works by itself without outside control.
无人wú rén: Describes a service or facility with no people stationed to run it.
自助式zì zhù shì: Describes a service arrangement where users handle the operation themselves.

Definition in Chinese

用来形容由个人自己完成的服务方式，强调不依赖他人帮助，常见搭配有自助结账、自助餐、自助点餐等。yòng lái xíng róng yóu gè rén zì jǐ wán chéng de fú wù fāng shì qiáng diào bù yī lài tā rén bāng zhù cháng jiàn dā pèi yǒu zì zhù jié zhàng zì zhù cān zì zhù diǎn cān děng

Word origin

自 (zì, "self") + 助 (zhù, "help") form 自助 (zìzhù, "self-help"), whose idea of helping oneself extends naturally to services completed by the customer.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate self-help with books or personal improvement, but in everyday Chinese 自助 (zìzhù, "self-service") usually labels a customer-operated option in a shop or restaurant.

Other meanings

  • self-checkoutnoun
  • buffetnoun
  • self-helpnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word