Translation guide
How to express that something happens or exists alone, without help, or automatically in Japanese.
Describing that something exists or happens without other things or people.
Literally 'with just that', used to mean 'by itself' or 'on its own' when something is sufficient or happens without anything else.
この料理はそれだけで十分おいしい。
This dish is delicious by itself.
Means 'alone' or 'independently', often used in formal or technical contexts.
Expressing that a process or action occurs without external assistance or control.
The standard way to say 'automatically' or 'by itself', used for machines, systems, or processes.
コンピューターが自動的に更新される。
The computer updates by itself.
Referring to something considered separately from other things.
Means 'in itself' or 'by itself', used to consider something independently.
その言葉はそれ自体では意味がない。
The word has no meaning by itself.
Directly translating 'by itself' as 「によってそれ自身」 is unnatural. Use the phrases above depending on context.
This machine operates by itself.
Means 'by itself' or 'automatically', often for things that happen without human intervention, sometimes with a sense of spontaneity.
ドアがひとりでに開いた。
The door opened by itself.
Means 'naturally' or 'by itself', used when something happens without external force or effort.
傷は自然に治った。
The wound healed by itself.
Means 'on its own' or 'without permission', often with a nuance of doing something arbitrarily or without asking.
アプリが勝手に起動した。
The app started by itself.
Literally 'even if left alone', used to mean that something will happen by itself without intervention.
この植物は放っておいても育つ。
This plant grows by itself.
Means 'as a standalone unit', often used for objects or components.
この部品は単体では機能しない。
This part doesn't function by itself.