亲自

亲自 (qīn zì) means 'in person' or 'personally.' It emphasizes direct involvement or presence, often used to indicate that someone has done something themselves rather than delegating it to others.

The character 亲 (qīn) originally meant 'close' or 'intimate,' and later came to mean 'personal' or 'direct.' 自 (zì) means 'self' or 'oneself.' Together, they convey the idea of doing something oneself, with personal involvement.

亲自 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. For example, a manager might say 他亲自来参加会议 (tā qīn zì lái cān jiā huì yì), meaning 'He came to the meeting in person.' It also appears in cultural expressions like 亲自体验 (qīn zì tǐ yàn), which means 'to experience firsthand.'