自然 (zì rán) — nature in Mandarin
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#578 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
自然 is pronounced zì rán. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zìrán jiè hěn měilì.
Nature is very beautiful.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 自然 mean?+
自然 (zì rán) means "nature" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 自然?+
自然 is pronounced zì rán. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 自然 in Mandarin?+
自然 is the #578 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 自然 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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