<blockquote>
<p>Understand 自 originally a nose symbol</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When someone identifies himself, one of the most common gestures is pointing at his own face, and the most protruding part of the face is the nose, therefore, pointing at one's own nose represents 'oneself' (自己).</p>
<p>自 in the sense has the same meaning as 本 (origin, source). Your action came from yourself, your voice came from yourself, You see things from your point of view, therefore the extended meaning of 'from' was added to the character '自'</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-07T15:48:20.390Z
2021-03-07T15:48:20.390Z
Tang Ho
<p>I am going through the word: 自幼 zìyòu since childhood</p>
<p>自 zì self, oneself, from, since, naturally, surely; private, personal</p>
<p>Understand 自 originally a nose symbol.
how the meanings “from” and “since” evolved for zì? Etymology?</p>

<meaning-in-context><etymology>
how “from” and “since” meanings originated for 自
# how “from” and “since” meanings originated for 自

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-07)

I am going through the word: 自幼 zìyòu since childhood

自 zì self, oneself, from, since, naturally, surely; private, personal

Understand 自 originally a nose symbol.
how the meanings “from” and “since” evolved for zì? Etymology?

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, etymology

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-07. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

> Understand 自 originally a nose symbol

When someone identifies himself, one of the most common gestures is pointing at his own face, and the most protruding part of the face is the nose, therefore, pointing at one's own nose represents 'oneself' (自己).

自 in the sense has the same meaning as 本 (origin, source). Your action came from yourself, your voice came from yourself, You see things from your point of view, therefore the extended meaning of 'from' was added to the character '自'


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