自 for a Formal Time or Place Starting Point in Chinese
自 + 时间 / 处所
The preposition 自 introduces the time or place from which an event, state, or movement begins. It is concise and relatively formal, especially in written notices and reports. The complete 自 phrase normally appears before the predicate. In everyday conversation, 从 often expresses the same basic starting-point relation more naturally.
Published July 29, 2026
Reviewed July 29, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
自 + Starting Time / Place + Verb Phrase
Read the structure
The preposition 自 introduces the time or place from which an event, state, or movement begins. It is concise and relatively formal, especially in written notices and reports. The complete 自 phrase normally appears before the predicate. In everyday conversation, 从 often expresses the same basic starting-point relation more naturally. Keep the model 自 + Starting Time / Place + Verb Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
学校自九月一日起上课。
Classes begin on September 1.
Choose the right context
Mark the beginning of a time span in formal language. Introduce a geographical source or departure point. Place the whole 自 phrase before the predicate it modifies.
航班自北京出发。
The flight departs from Beijing.
Respect the boundary
Do not split 自 from its time or place complement. Do not strand 自 after the predicate. Do not assume 自 is always the most natural choice in casual speech.
学校自起九月一日上课。
(Classes begin on September 1.)
Repair the pattern
自 is separated from its starting time: 自 must directly introduce the starting time; 起 follows the complete date phrase. The source phrase is reversed: The preposition must precede its place complement to form 自北京.
学校自九月一日起上课。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
学校自九月一日起上课。
Classes begin on September 1.
学校
自
This part occupies the 自 position in the model pattern.
自
Starting Time / Place
This part occupies the Starting Time / Place position in the model pattern.
九月
Verb Phrase
This part occupies the Verb Phrase position in the model pattern.
一日
自
This part occupies the 自 position in the model pattern.
起
Starting Time / Place
This part occupies the Starting Time / Place position in the model pattern.
上课
Verb Phrase
This part occupies the Verb Phrase position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
学校自九月一日起上课。
Classes begin on September 1.
航班自北京出发。
The flight departs from Beijing.
自去年以来，他一直住在这里。
He has lived here since last year.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Mark the beginning of a time span in formal language.
- Introduce a geographical source or departure point.
- Place the whole 自 phrase before the predicate it modifies.
Do not use it when
- Do not split 自 from its time or place complement.
- Do not strand 自 after the predicate.
- Do not assume 自 is always the most natural choice in casual speech.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
学校自起九月一日上课。
学校自九月一日起上课。
自 is separated from its starting time
自 must directly introduce the starting time; 起 follows the complete date phrase.
航班北京自出发。
航班自北京出发。
The source phrase is reversed
The preposition must precede its place complement to form 自北京.
学校自起九月一日上课。
自 must directly introduce the starting time; 起 follows the complete date phrase.
航班北京自出发。
The preposition must precede its place complement to form 自北京.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 自 + 时间 / 处所.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 自 + 时间 / 处所. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
自 for a Formal Time or Place Starting Point Questions
How is 自 different from 从?
Both can mark a starting point. 自 is more concise and formal, while 从 is usually more common in ordinary conversation.
Can 自 introduce both time and place?
Yes. It can introduce a starting date or period and a geographical source or departure point.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 4 item 【四13】, PDF p. 212
Lists 自 at Level 4 with both time-origin and place-origin examples.
Official source现代汉语的词性分类
华侨大学华文教育研究院 · 华侨大学 · 2024
Locator: Preposition section, examples of prepositional function
Defines prepositions as introducing participants, time, or place before a predicate.
Official sourceA Course in Contemporary Chinese 4
National Taiwan Normal University Mandarin Training Center · National Taiwan Normal University · 2021
Locator: Vocabulary and grammar reference entry 自: from, formal
Independently identifies 自 as a formal marker of a source or starting point.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
（自）……以来（自）…以来: Ever Since
Combine 自 with 以来 when a state continues from a formal starting time.
Easy to confuse
从从 for a Starting Point
Compare concise formal 自 with neutral conversational 从 before the same source.
Easy to confuse
自从自从: Ever Since a Starting Point
Distinguish standalone 自 from the fixed compound 自从 used for a continuing time frame.
Compare
在在 for Location and the Setting of an Action
自 marks a source or starting point, while 在 locates an event or entity.
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Easy to confuse
Compare concise formal 自 with neutral conversational 从 before the same source.