(しぜん)

しぜんに
adverb
naturally; spontaneously; by itself
1. naturally; spontaneously; without effort
Describes something happening without deliberate action, force, or artificial intervention. The process or result occurs on its own.
(きず)自然(しぜん)(なお)
The wound will heal naturally.
(なみだ)自然(しぜん)(なが)れてきた。
Tears came naturally.
My Japanese got better naturally while I was living there.
2. in a natural manner; without affectation
Describes behaving, speaking, or appearing in a way that is relaxed and unforced, without seeming artificial or stiff.
自然(しぜん)()()
To behave naturally.
カメラ(まえ)自然(しぜん)(わら)える(ひと)うらやましい。
I envy people who can smile naturally even in front of a camera.
He can converse naturally even with people he's meeting for the first time.

Adverbial form of 自然(しぜん) (nature; natural) + . One of the most commonly used adverbs in Japanese. The two senses overlap but have distinct nuances:

  • Sense 1: focuses on processes happening without human intervention
  • Sense 2: focuses on behavior that appears unforced and comfortable

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 自然(しぜん): naturally; spontaneously — very similar but slightly more literary; emphasizes inevitability
  • ひとりでに: by itself; on its own — emphasizes that no person caused the action
  • 自発的(じはつてき): voluntarily; of one's own accord — implies conscious choice, unlike 自然(しぜん)に which implies no deliberation