Tuttle Learners of Chinese -English Dictionary

zìfā 自发 ADJ spontaneous
zìfèi 自费 [modif: 自 self + 费 cost] ADJ self-supporting, paid by oneself ■ 我不明白， 他们怎么有钱
送孩子去国外自费留学？Wǒ bù míngbái, tāmen zěnme yǒu qián sòng háizi qù guówài zìfèi
liúxué? I don’t understand how they could afford to send their child overseas as a self-supporting
student. 自费留学生 zìfèi liúxuéshēng self-supporting foreign student, fee-paying foreign student
zìháo 自豪 [modif: 自 self + 豪 pride] V be very proud of oneself
zìjǐ 自己 PRON self, one’s own ■ 自己的工作自己 做。Zìjǐ de gōngzuò zìjǐ zuò. Each must do their
own work. ■ 你不能只想到自己。Nǐ bù néng zhǐ xiǎngdào zìjǐ. You mustn’t think of yourself only.
你自己 nǐ zìjǐ yourself / 你们自己 nǐmen zìjǐ yourselves / 他/她自己 tā zìjǐ himself/herself / 他们自己
tāmen zìjǐ themselves / 我自己 wǒ zìjǐ myself / 我们自己 wǒmen zìjǐ ourselves
zìjué 自觉 [modif: 自 self + 觉 conscious, aware] ADJ being aware of, being conscious of, voluntary,
conscientious ■ 孩子自觉帮助做家务。Háizi zìjué bāngzhù zuò jiāwù. The child helps with the
household chores voluntarily. ■ 他犯这个错误不 是自觉的。Tā fàn zhège cuòwù bú shì zìjué
de. He made the mistake without being aware of it.
zì lì gēng shēng 自力更生 V rely on one’s own efforts, self-reliant
zìmǎn 自满 [modif: 自 self + 满 full] ADJ complacent, self-satisfied ■ 我们取得了很好的成 绩，但是
不能自满。Wǒmen qǔdé le hěn hǎode chéngjì, dànshì bùnéng zìmǎn. We’ve made good
achievements, but we mustn’t be complacent.
zìrán 自然 I N nature ■ 哲学问题之一就是人和 自然的关系。Zhéxué wèntí zhī yī jiù shì rén hé zìrán
de guānxi. One philosophical issue is the relationship between humankind and nature. II ADJ natural
■ 父母爱子女是自然的。Fù-mǔ ài zǐnǚ shì zìrán de. It is only natural that parents love their
children. ■ 她说话的样子很不自然。Tā shuōhuà de yàngzi hěn bú zìrán. The way she speaks is
quite affected.
zìshā 自杀 V & N attempt or commit suicide; suicide
zìsī 自私 [comp: 自 self + 私 private] ADJ selfish, egoistic ■ 独生子女往往比较自私，对不对？
Dúshēngzǐ nǚ wǎngwǎng bǐjiào zìsī, duì búduì? Is it true that an only child tends to be selfish?
zìxìn 自信 ADJ self-confident 缺乏自信 quēfá zìxìn lacking in self-confidence
zìxíngchē 自行车 [modif: 自 self + 行 walking + 车 vehicle] N bicycle (辆 liàng) ■ 我会骑自行车，
但是不会修自行车。Wǒ huì qí zìxíngchē, dànshì bú huì xiū zìxíngchē. I can ride a bicycle, but I
can’t fix it.
zìxué 自学 [modif: 自 self + 学 study] V study independently, teach oneself ■ 他自学日语三年， 已经
能看懂日文书了。Tā zìxué Rìyǔ sān nián, yǐjīng néng kàndǒng Rìwén shū le. He taught himself
Japanese for three years and is now able to read Japanese books. ■ 我佩服自学成才的 人。Wǒ
pèifu zìxué chéngcái de rén. I admire those who have made themselves useful through self-study.
zìyóu 自由 ADJ & N free, unrestrained; freedom, liberty ■ 他不愿意结婚，因为他喜欢自由。Tā bú
yuànyì jiéhūn, yīnwèi tā xǐhuan zìyóu. He is unwilling to marry because he enjoys his freedom. ■
他觉得和父母住在一起不自由。Tā juéde hé fù-mǔ zhù zài yìqǐ bú zìyóu. Living with his
parents, he does not feel free.
zìyuàn 自愿 [modif: 自 self + 愿 willing] ADJ voluntary, of one’s own accord
zìzhǔ 自主 V act on one’s own, keep the initiative in one’s own hands
zìzhùcān 自助餐 [modif: 自助 self-help + 餐 meal] N buffet dinner, buffet
zì 字 N Chinese character ■ 中国字很有意思。 Zhōngguó zì hěn yǒu yìsi. Chinese characters are very
interesting. ■ 这个字是什么意思？怎么 念？Zhège zì shì shénme yìsi? zěnme niàn? What is the
meaning of this Chinese character? How is it pronounced?
zìmǔ 字母 N letter (of an alphabet) 字母表 zìmǔbiǎo alphabet
zìmù 字幕 N caption, subtitle
zi 子 SUFFIX (forming a noun, e.g. bēizi 杯子, xiāngzi 箱子, etc.)
zōng 宗 N ancestor
zōngjiào 宗教 N religion 宗教信仰 zōngjiào xìnyǎng religious belief
zōngzhǐ 宗旨 N primary purpose, aim