Prefix meaning 'self' or 'own', used in compounds like 自宅 (one's own home) or 自信 (self-confidence).
More people are working from their own homes.
He clearly states his own opinion.
Prefix indicating a starting point in time or place, as in 自今 (from now on) or 自宅発 (departing from home). Often used in formal or written contexts.
See also: 至
I wish you continued success from now on.
This train is bound for Tokyo (departing from here).
From Middle Chinese-derived on-reading of the kanji 自, originally meaning 'self' or 'from'. The prefix usage follows classical Chinese patterns.
original; unique; distinctive · independent; one's own; personal
pride; boasting; self-praise
self-government; autonomy · local autonomy
self-awareness; self-consciousness
autonomy; independence; self-reliance
one's own company; the company one works for · in-house; internal; belonging to the company
one's own work; self-made; making by oneself · farming one's own land; independent farmer
self-proclaimed; self-styled; would-be · calling oneself; professing to be; describing oneself as · first person
automatic; automatically
independence; self-reliance
self-defense; protecting oneself
suicide bombing; self-destruction; blowing oneself up
one's own strength; one's own efforts · self-salvation
one's own country; home country
spontaneity; voluntary action · spontaneous passive
each person; everyone; individually; respective
autonomy (Kantian ethics) · self-control; self-discipline; autonomy (general)
self-restraint; voluntary restraint; self-discipline
freely; at will; as one pleases · pothook
confession; admission
unloaded weight; dead load; tare · one's own weight