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
騒動
soudou
strife, riot, rebellion
N1
他動詞
tadoushi
transitive verb (direct object)
N1
自転
jiten
rotation, spin
N1
助動詞
jodoushi
auxiliary verb
N1
不動産
fudousan
real estate
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変動
hendou
change, fluctuation
N1
暴動
boudou
insurrection, riot, uprising
N2
各自
kakuji
individual, each
N2
形容動詞
keiyoudoushi
adjectival noun, quasi-adjective
Kanji