1.
naturally; spontaneously; without effort
Describes something happening without deliberate action, force, or artificial intervention. The process or result occurs on its own.
傷は自然に治る。
The wound will heal naturally.
涙が自然に流れてきた。
Tears came naturally.
住んでいるうちに自然に日本語が上手になった。
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.
自然に振る舞う。
To behave naturally.
カメラの前でも自然に笑える人がうらやましい。
I envy people who can smile naturally even in front of a camera.
初対面の人とも自然に会話ができる。
He can converse naturally even with people he's meeting for the first time.
Adverbial form of 自然 (nature; natural) + に. 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:
- 自然に身につく: to acquire naturally (skills, habits)
- 自然に治る: to heal naturally
- 自然に消える: to disappear on its own
- 自然に振る舞う: to act naturally
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 自然と: 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
- 自発的に: voluntarily; of one's own accord — implies conscious choice, unlike 自然に which implies no deliberation