Word
自動
Meaning in Englishautomatic, self-operating
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
It means automatic or self-operated. In everyday and technical Japanese, it describes devices, processes, or mechanisms that operate without human input.
Main meanings
- Automatic/automatic operation: describes devices or systems that function without manual input.
- Prefix usage: forms auto- compounds such as 自動車 (jidōsha) and 自動化 (jidōka).
- Adverbial form: 自動的に (jidō-teki ni) expresses doing something in an automatic manner.
How to use it
Used as a noun to denote automatic operation or as a prefix in compound terms; in formal and technical contexts it appears in signage and product descriptions. Common usages include 自動ドア, 自動車, 自動化; the adverbial form 自動的に describes performing an action in an automatic way.
Variants and close terms
- manual — 手動 (shudō)
- auto- prefix in compounds — 自動- (jidō-)
- adverbial form — 自動的に (jidō-teki ni)
Composition
- 自: self
- 動: move
- Combination: implies movement initiated by the self, hence automatic operation
Etymology
自 self; 動 move; ji-dō (jidō) is the on'yomi pronunciation used in compounds, reflecting its formation as a Sino-Japanese compound.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
動機
douki
motive, incentive
N1
動向
doukou
trend, tendency, movement, attitude
N1
自在
jizai
freely, at will
N1
自主
jishu
independence, autonomy
N1
自首
jishu
surrender, give oneself up
N1
自尊心
jisonshin
self-respect, conceit
N1
出動
shutsudou
mobilization, action
N1
自立
jiritsu
independence, self-reliance
N1
振動
shindou
oscillation, vibration
Kanji