Chinese–EnglishWith examples

自由

zì yóu · zi you

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 5Measure word: 种 zhǒng

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. freedom; liberty
  2. free; unrestricted
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

A free afternoon

  1. Liangliang

    今天(jīntiān)下午(xiàwǔ)我(wǒ)很(hěn)自由(zìyóu)。

    I am free this afternoon!

  2. Dengdeng

    太好了(tàihǎole)！你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)做(zuò)什么(shénme)？

    Great! What do you want to do?

  3. Liangliang

    什么(shénme)都(dōu)可以(kěyǐ)。我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)自由(zìyóu)选择(xuǎnzé)。

    Anything. I am free to choose.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)跟(gēn)我(wǒ)去(qù)公园(gōngyuán)吧(ba)。

    Then come to the park with me.

  5. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)。我(wǒ)自由了(zìyóule)一分钟(yīfēnzhōng)，现在(xiànzài)要(yào)听你的(tīngnǐde)了(le)。

    Okay. I was free for one minute, and now I do what you say.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

每(měi)个(gè)人(rén)都(dōu)应(yīng)该(gāi)有(yǒu)选(xuǎn)择(zé)自(zì)己(jǐ)生(shēng)活(huó)的(de)自(zì)由(yóu)。

Everyone should have the freedom to choose their own life.

02

这(zhè)只(zhī)小(xiǎo)鸟(niǎo)在(zài)天(tiān)空(kōng)中(zhōng)自(zì)由(yóu)地(de)飞(fēi)翔(xiáng)。

This little bird flies freely in the sky.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
自
zì

(bound form) self; oneself; from; since

由
yóu

to follow; from

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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