自 (zì)

(bound form) self; oneself; from; since; naturally; as a matter of cou

Etymology

Pictograph of a nose. Original form of 鼻 (nose). In China, when people point to themselves, they typically point to their nose.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“自,鼻也。象鼻形。,古文自。”

Original meaning

nose