自体
Meanings
2
one's own body; oneself
Rare as a modern independent noun meaning one's own body or self; learners will usually encounter 自体 in the suffix-like 'itself' sense instead.
In older writing, 自体 can refer to oneself or one's own body.
3
originally; naturally; by nature; from the start
Rare adverbial use meaning that something is so from the beginning or by its nature; in ordinary modern Japanese, もともと, 本来, or 生まれつき is usually clearer.
When 自体 is used as an adverb, it can rarely mean 'originally' or 'from the start.'
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉自体は〈形容詞〉X itself is ~ (setting aside other related factors)
The price itself isn't high, but the shipping fee is.
- 〈事〉自体が〈形容詞〉the fact of X itself is ~ (regardless of the outcome)
I think the plan itself was unreasonable.
- 〈物〉自体を疑うto doubt the very validity of X itself
Some scholars doubt the theory itself.