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
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N2
自衛
jiei
self-defense
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自習
jishuu
self-study
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自然科学
shizenkagaku
natural science
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自宅
jitaku
one's own home (same as 自分の家 (じぶんのいえ))
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自治
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self-government, autonomy
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動作
dousa
action, movements, motions
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自ら
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for one's self, personally
N3
自身
jishin
oneself, self
N3
自然
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nature, natural, spontaneous
Kanji