自 A 自 B
by oneself, to oneself, for oneself: one person plays both parts
Structure
自 动词 自 动词
What it means
自 before each of two related verbs makes a set four-character phrase in which one and the same person plays both parts: doing both things, or acting and bearing the result.
How it is built
自 + verb + 自 + verb: 自言自语 (talk to oneself), 自给自足 (self-sufficient), 自导自演 (stage it oneself), 自作自受 (suffer for one's own doing): 老人一边走，一边自言自语 (the old man muttered to himself as he walked).
When to use it
Most are fixed, so learn them as words rather than making new ones (also 自生自灭, left to live or die alone). Several are critical: 自作自受 blames, 自导自演 accuses someone of faking.
Watch out
自 here is 'oneself', not 'from' as in 自2007年起. Don't use the critical ones for innocent bad luck: 自作自受 says the person caused it.
Examples
调查发现，所谓“网上被骗三万元”，是他为了向父母要钱自导自演的。
The investigation showed that his story of being “cheated out of 30,000 yuan online” was staged to get money from his parents.
老人一边走，一边自言自语。
The old man muttered to himself as he walked.
他醉酒开车，被吊销了驾照，完全是自作自受。
He drove drunk and lost his licence: he has only himself to blame.
Learn this in Lesson 193 · HSK 7–9: 一桩刑事案 (How a criminal case moves)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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