Meaning
自觉 refers to being conscious or aware of something, particularly one's own actions, responsibilities, or circumstances. It often describes doing something voluntarily without being told or supervised, showing initiative and self-discipline. The word combines the concepts of 'self' and 'awareness' to convey autonomous consciousness.
Usage
自觉 is commonly used to describe someone acting responsibly on their own initiative, especially in educational or moral contexts. It can function as an adjective describing a person's quality or as an adverb meaning 'consciously' or 'voluntarily.' Often appears in phrases like 自觉遵守 (consciously abide by) or 很自觉 (very conscientious/self-disciplined).
Examples
- 01他很自觉，不用父母督促就能完成作业。, .He is very conscientious; he can finish his homework without his parents' supervision.
- 02我们应该自觉遵守公共场所的规定。.We should consciously abide by the regulations in public places.
Characters
Common collocations
- 自觉遵守consciously abide by
- 很自觉very conscientious/self-disciplined
- 自觉性consciousness, initiative
- 不自觉unconsciously, unaware
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 自 (self) with 觉 (awareness/consciousness), literally meaning 'self-awareness.' This construction reflects the philosophical concept of autonomous consciousness and self-initiated action that has been important in Chinese thought.