Translation and Meaning of: 自然 - shizen

The Japanese word 自然[しぜん] is one of those that seems simple at first glance, but carries layers of meaning deeply connected to Japan's culture and philosophy. If you are looking to understand its usage, translation, or how it fits into the everyday life of the Japanese, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explore from the basic meaning to curiosities about how this word reflects both traditional and modern values.

While in Portuguese "natureza" may seem like a direct translation, 自然 goes beyond the physical sense. It appears in everyday expressions, proverbs, and even in discussions about lifestyle. Here at Suki Nihongo, our dictionary details each nuance, but let's move on to uncover what makes this word so special.

Meaning and translation of 自然

Translating "自然" simply as "nature" reduces its scope. In Japanese, it encompasses both the natural world (forests, rivers) and the idea of spontaneity. When someone says "自然のまま" (shizen no mama), it means "as it is," without human interference. This duality is essential to understanding why the word is so frequent in the language.

A common mistake is to believe that 自然 (shizen) only refers to landscapes. In sentences like "自然に笑う" (shizen ni warau), it describes a natural, unforced smile. This abstract usage shows how the term permeates from informal conversations to philosophical texts, something that the Suki Nihongo dictionary explains with real examples.

Origin and components of kanjis

The kanjis 自然 (自 e 然) have curious stories. 自, by itself, represents "oneself," while 然 originally meant "to burn" but gained the meaning of "the state of things." Together, they form the idea of "that which exists on its own" – a definition that resonates in both Shinto and Japanese Buddhism.

It's interesting to note that 然 is the same kanji used in words like 当然 (touzen – obvious) and 突然 (totsuzen – sudden). This connection helps with memorization: think of 自然 as "the original state of things," without abrupt changes. Sources like Kanjipedia confirm this semantic evolution.

Cultural and philosophical use

In Japan, 自然 is not just a concept, but a value. It appears in 侘寂 (wabi-sabi), an aesthetic that celebrates natural imperfections, and in 森の思想 (mori no shisou – "philosophy of the forest"). Even companies use the term in slogans to convey authenticity, such as in 自然派 (shizenha – "natural line") products.

Animes like "Princess Mononoke" illustrate this cultural relationship well. When the characters talk about 自然の摂理 (shizen no setsuri – "natural order"), they refer to laws that humans should not disturb. This respect shapes everything from environmental policies to daily habits, such as 森林浴 (shinrin-yoku – "forest bathing").

Tips for using 自然 correctly

To avoid traps, remember: 自然 functions as both a noun and an adverb. In "自然が好き" (shizen ga suki), it is a noun ("I like nature"). In "自然に話す" (shizen ni hanasu), it becomes an adverb ("to speak naturally"). This flexibility explains why it appears in 0.1% of Japanese texts – a very high frequency for a non-basic term.

A useful curiosity: in Kansai, the pronunciation can turn into "じねん" (jinen), but the writing remains the same. If you hear this in dramas or songs, don't be confused – it's the same word. And be careful with false cognates: "natural" in English doesn't always correspond to 自然, as in "natural hair color" (天然の髪色 – tennen no kamiiro).

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 自然界 (Shizen Kai) - Natural world, the set of all non-artificial things.
• 自然環境 (Shizen Kankyō) - Natural environment refers to the physical and biological aspects of nature.
• 大自然 (Dai Shizen) - Great nature emphasizes the vastness and magnificence of nature.
• 自然の中 (Shizen no Naka) - Within nature, it refers to being immersed in or surrounded by nature.
• 自然美 (Shizen Bi) - Beautiful nature refers to the beauty found in natural elements.
• 自然風景 (Shizen Fūkei) - Natural landscape refers to natural views and scenes.
• 自然物 (Shizen Butsu) - Natural objects refer to any objects that occur in nature.
• 自然科学 (Shizen Kagaku) - Natural sciences, the study of sciences that involve the natural world.
• 自然哲学 (Shizen Tetsugaku) - Philosophy of nature addresses philosophical questions related to nature.
• 自然主義 (Shizen Shugi) - Naturalism, a philosophy that emphasizes nature in the understanding of the world.

自然

Romaji: shizen
Kana: しぜん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: nature; spontaneous

Meaning in English: nature;spontaneous

Definition: The original form and state that have not been touched by human hands.

Example Sentences - (自然) shizen

See below some example sentences:

山林は自然の宝庫です。

Yamabayashi wa shizen no hōko desu

The forests are natural treasures.

The forest is a treasure of nature.

• 山林 (sanrin) - Mountain forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 宝庫 (houko) - tesouro, depósito
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

遊牧民は自然と共に生きる。

Yūbokumin wa shizen to tomo ni ikiru

Nomads live with nature.

• 遊牧民 - nomadic people
• は - Topic particle
• 自然 - Nature
• と - connecting particle
• 共に - Together
• 生きる - Live

高原には美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Takahara ni wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

There is a lot of beautiful nature on the plateau.

• 高原 - plateau
• には - indicates the location of the phrase
• 美しい - beautiful
• 自然 - nature
• が - subject particle
• たくさん - many
• あります - exists

農村は自然に囲まれた素晴らしい場所です。

Nōson wa shizen ni kakomareta subarashii basho desu

Rural areas are wonderful places surrounded by nature.

Rural is a wonderful place surrounded by nature.

• 農村 - It means "rural village" in Japanese.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 自然 - Means "nature" in Japanese.
• に - grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of something to something else.
• 囲まれた - past form of the verb "囲む" which means "to surround".
• 素晴らしい - means "wonderful" or "splendid" in Japanese.
• 場所 - means "place" in Japanese.
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

自然に生きることが大切です。

Shizen ni ikiru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to live naturally.

It is important to live naturally.

• 自然に - means "naturally".
• 生きる - means "to live".
• ことが - is a particle that indicates that what follows is a noun or noun phrase.
• 大切 - means "important".
• です - is a particle that indicates that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative.

自然法則は宇宙の秩序を支配しています。

Shizen hōsoku wa uchū no chitsujo o shihai shite imasu

The natural laws govern the order of the universe.

Natural law dominates the order of the universe.

• 自然法則 - natural law
• は - Topic particle
• 宇宙 - Universe
• の - Possession particle
• 秩序 - order
• を - direct object particle
• 支配 - govern, control
• しています - polite form of the verb "to do" in the present progressive

生き物は自然の中で大切な存在です。

Ikimono wa shizen no naka de taisetsu na sonzai desu

Living beings are important beings in nature.

Creatures are important in nature.

• 生き物 - means "living beings" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "living beings".
• 自然 - Means "nature" in Japanese.
• の - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words, in this case, "nature".
• 中 - means "in the middle of" or "inside" in Japanese.
• で - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the place where something happens, in this case, "within nature".
• 大切 - means "important" or "valuable" in Japanese.
• な - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates an adjective.
• 存在 - means "existence" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates the existence or identity of something.

水源は大切な自然資源です。

Suigen wa taisetsu na shizen shigen desu

The water source is an important natural resource.

The water source is an important natural resource.

• 水源 (suigen) - Water source
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 大切 (taisetsu) - important, valuable
• な (na) - particle that modifies the previous adjective
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• 資源 (shigen) - resource
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

森は美しい自然の贈り物です。

Mori wa utsukushii shizen no okurimono desu

The forest is a beautiful gift from nature.

The forest is a beautiful natural gift.

• 森 (mori) - forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

森林は自然の宝石です。

Mori no wa shizen no hōseki desu

Forests are nature's jewels.

The forest is a natural gem.

• 森林 (shinrin) - forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 宝石 (hōseki) - jewel
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present