---
title: "Shanzi Meaning: 擅自 (without permission) or 扇子 (fan)?"
description: "擅自 (shànzì) means “without permission; on one's own authority”. Not the shanzi you heard? See 扇子. Hear its tones, see what 擅 and 自 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shanzi"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 擅自 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

擅自 shànzì

## without permission; on one's own authority

## Its characters

1. 擅 shàn without authorization (as in 擅自)
2. 自 zì from

## In a sentence

请不要擅自进入这个房间。 Please do not enter this room without permission.

[More about 擅自](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%93%85%E8%87%AA)

## Other words said shanzi

- [扇子shànzifan](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%89%87%E5%AD%90)

## More words with 擅 or 自

- [大自然 dàzìrán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daziran)
- [各自 gèzì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gezi)
- [来自 láizì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/laizi)
- [亲自 qīnzì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qinzi)
- [擅长 shàncháng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shanchang)
- [自称 zìchēng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zicheng)
- [自从 zìcóng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zicong)
- [自动 zìdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zidong)
- [自豪 zìháo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zihao)
- [自己 zìjǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ziji)

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[All 214 Chinese radicals](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-radicals)

[The best Pleco alternatives](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/pleco-alternatives)