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:

日光は美しい自然がたくさんある場所です。

Nikkou wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan aru basho desu

Nikko is a place with a lot of beautiful nature.

• 日光 - Proper name referring to a city in Japan.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• 自然 - Noun that means "nature"
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• たくさん - Adverb that means "very"
• ある - Verb that means "to exist"
• 場所 - Noun that means "place"
• です - Linking verb that indicates the end of the sentence and formality.

昆虫は自然の中でとても重要な役割を果たしています。

Kunchū wa shizen no naka de totemo jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Insects play a very important role in nature.

• 昆虫 (konchuu) - Insects
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 中で (chuu de) - Inside of
• とても (totemo) - very
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 役割を果たしています (yakuwari wo hatashite imasu) - play a role

生物は自然界の多様性を表しています。

Seibutsu wa shizenkai no tayousei wo arawashite imasu

Living beings represent the diversity of nature.

Creatures represent the diversity of nature.

• 生物 - Japanese word meaning "living beings"
• は - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 自然界 - Japanese word meaning "natural world"
• の - Japanese grammatical particle indicating possession or relationship
• 多様性 - Japanese word meaning "diversity"
• を - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 表しています - Japanese verb meaning "to represent"

私は深く自然の美しさを悟りました。

Watashi wa fukaku shizen no utsukushisa o satorimashita

I deeply understood the beauty of nature.

I realized the beauty of nature.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 深く (fukaku) - adverb meaning "deeply"
• 自然 (shizen) - Noun that means "nature"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 美しさ (utsukushisa) - noun meaning "beauty"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 悟りました (satorimashita) - verb meaning "I realized" or "I understood" (in the past tense)

私たちを取り巻く自然の美しさに感謝します。

Watashitachi o torimaku shizen no utsukushisa ni kansha shimasu

I am grateful for the beauty of the nature that surrounds us.

Thank you for the beauty of nature around us.

• 私たち - 「私たち」
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 取り巻く - "囲む" ou "包む" em japonês
• 自然 - 自然 (Shizen)
• の - Possessive particle in Japanese
• 美しさ - "beauty" in Japanese
• に - Destination particle in Japanese
• 感謝します - "ありがとうございます" (Arigatou gozaimasu)

私たちは自然を養うことが大切だと信じています。

Watashitachi wa shizen o yashinau koto ga taisetsu da to shinjite imasu

We believe that it is important to cultivate nature.

We believe that it is important to develop nature.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 自然を - "Nature" in Japanese, direct object of the sentence.
• 養う - "Cultivar" or "nurture" in Japanese, a verb that indicates the action to be taken.
• ことが - Japanese particle that indicates that "cultivating nature" is the subject of the sentence.
• 大切 - "Important" or "valuable" in Japanese, an adjective that qualifies the action of cultivating nature.
• と - Japanese particle that indicates that the sentence continues
• 信じています - "Acreditamos" in Japanese, a verb that indicates the belief or opinion of the speakers.

群れを作るのは自然の摂理だ。

Mure wo tsukuru no wa shizen no setsuri da

It is a natural providence to make a herd.

• 群れ (mure) - means "group" or "herd" in Japanese
• を (wo) - object particle
• 作る (tsukuru) - Verb that means "to create" or "to form"
• のは (no wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - It means "nature" in Japanese.
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 摂理 (setsuri) - It means "natural order" or "law of nature" in Japanese.
• だ (da) - copulative verb indicating existence or identity

自然科学は私の専門分野です。

Shizen kagaku wa watashi no senmon bun'ya desu

Natural science is my specialty.

• 自然科学 - Natural Science
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - my
• 専門分野 - field of specialization
• です - is

谷は美しい自然の風景です。

Tani wa utsukushii shizen no fūkei desu

Valley is a beautiful natural landscape.

• 谷 (tani) - valley, gorge
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 風景 (fukei) - landscape
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

農家は自然と共に生きる。

Nōka wa shizen to tomo ni ikiru

Farmers live with nature.

• 農家 - farmer
• は - Topic particle
• 自然 - nature
• と - connecting particle
• 共に - together
• 生きる - live