Chinese word

自由

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì yóu

Meaning

  • adverbfreely

Example

你可以自由选择。nǐ ké yǐ zì yóu xuǎn zé

You can choose freely.

Illustration for 自由 (freely)

More examples

放学后孩子们在操场上自由活动。fàng xué hòu hái zi men zài cāo chǎng shàng zì yóu huó dòng

After school, the children play freely on the playground.

Core concept

A person holds the steering wheel while several routes remain open.

Common phrases

  • 自由选择zì yóu xuǎn zé

    choose freely

  • 自由活动zì yóu huó dòng

    act freely

Similar words

随便suí biàn: In a casual way, following personal convenience rather than strict rules or fixed order.

Definition in Chinese

不受外界强制或限制，按自身意愿行动或选择，也可表示权利或精神上的不受拘束。bú shòu wài jiè qiáng zhì huò xiàn zhì àn zì shēn yì yuàn xíng dòng huò xuǎn zé yě kě biǎo shì quán lì huò jīng shén shàng de bú shòu jū shù

Word origin

自 (zì, "self") + 由 (yóu, "to follow a source or reason") links a person's own direction with the course that action takes, giving the compound its sense of unforced choice.

Usage tips

  • In school rules, 自由 (zìyóu, "freedom") does not mean that every rule disappears; it means that a choice remains within the space that the situation allows.

Other meanings

  • freedomnoun
  • freeadjective

Related words

  • 自由地zì yóu dìfreelyadverb

Word lists with this word