Meaning
自由 means freedom or liberty in both a political sense (freedom of speech, civil liberties) and a personal sense (having free time, being unrestrained). As an adjective it means 'free' or 'unrestricted'. The word combines 自 (self) and 由 (from/through), suggesting autonomy that comes from within oneself.
Usage
自由 is used in both formal and informal contexts. In political or philosophical discussions, it refers to fundamental freedoms and human rights. In everyday speech, it often means having free time or being able to do as one pleases. Common in phrases like 自由时间 (free time) and 言论自由 (freedom of speech). Can function as a noun or as an adjective modifying other nouns.
Examples
- 01每个人都应该享有言论自由。.Everyone should enjoy freedom of speech.
- 02周末我有很多自由时间可以做自己喜欢的事。.On weekends I have a lot of free time to do things I like.
Characters
Common collocations
- 自由时间free time
- 言论自由freedom of speech
- 人身自由personal freedom
- 自由自在free and easy, carefree
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 自 (self) and 由 (from/through) creates the concept of 'coming from oneself' or self-determination. This compound has been used in Chinese for centuries but gained its modern political meaning through translation of Western concepts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.