How do you say "freedom" in Chinese?

自由

zì yóu

Noun Hanzi

In Chinese, "freedom" is 自由 (zì yóu).

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Pronunciation

Pronounced "zì yóu", carrying fourth tone, then second tone: snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is rising sharply.

Writing and usage

自由 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

每个人都应享有自由和选择的权利。

měi gè rén dōu yīng xiǎng yǒu zì yóu hé xuǎn zé de quán lì 。

Everyone deserves freedom and the right to choose.

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How to remember 自由

A quick anchor: the moment when everyone deserves freedom and the right to choose, then say "zì yóu" out loud.

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 自由

How do you pronounce 自由?

Pronounced "zì yóu", carrying fourth tone, then second tone: snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is rising sharply.

Is 自由 formal or casual?

自由 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 自由 used in Chinese?

自由 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 每个人都应享有自由和选择的权利。 (Everyone deserves freedom and the right to choose.).

Where can I practice Chinese words for free?

You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Freedom" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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