Definition

1. Noun:

   • Nature: The physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people. It refers to the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including all life and the forces that act upon it.
   • Naturalness: The quality or state of being natural, not artificial or forced.

2. Adjective:

   • Natural: Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind. Also, having a character or quality as found in nature.
   • Spontaneous, Unaffected: (Of behavior, speech, or appearance) relaxed and free from artificiality, self-consciousness, or strain; not forced or rehearsed.

3. Adverb:

   • Naturally, Spontaneously: In a natural, normal, or unconstrained manner.
   • Suddenly, For No Apparent Reason: (Used as a sentence modifier) Indicating that something happens unexpectedly or without a clear, logical cause.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Luật của tự nhiên rất mạnh mẽ. (The laws of nature are powerful.)
  • Anh ấy thích khám phá vẻ đẹp của tự nhiên. (He loves to explore the beauty of nature.)

• Adjective:

  • Đây là một ranh giới tự nhiên giữa hai khu vực. (This is a natural boundary between the two areas.)
  • Cô ấy có một nụ cười rất tự nhiên và ấm áp. (She has a very natural and warm smile.)
  • Cứ tự nhiên đi, đừng ngại. (Please make yourself at home / act naturally, don't be shy.)

• Adverb:

  • Cô ấy nói chuyện rất tự nhiên trước đám đông. (She speaks very naturally in front of a crowd.)
  • Tự nhiên trời đổ mưa. (Suddenly, it started to rain. / It started to rain for no apparent reason.)
  • Tự nhiên tôi nhớ đến anh ấy. (For some reason, I remembered him.)

Advanced Usage

• "một cách tự nhiên": (as an adverbial phrase) In a natural way; naturally.

  • Cô ấy chấp nhận lời xin lỗi một cách tự nhiên. (She accepted the apology naturally.)

• "lẽ tự nhiên": The natural order of things; what is natural or to be expected.

  • Lẽ tự nhiên, cây cần nước để sống. (Naturally, plants need water to live.)

• "thuận theo tự nhiên": To follow/go along with nature.

  • Chúng ta nên sống thuận theo tự nhiên. (We should live in harmony with nature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tự nhiên học (noun): Natural science(s).

  • Anh ấy học ngành tự nhiên học. (He studies natural science.)

• Tự nhiên chủ nghĩa (noun): Naturalism (a philosophical or artistic doctrine).

• Phi tự nhiên (adjective): Unnatural.
• Siêu nhiên (adjective): Supernatural.

Synonyms

• Thiên nhiên (noun): Nature (often used interchangeably with as a noun, but often emphasizes the scenic, physical environment).
• Bản nhiên (noun/adjective): Innate nature; natural state (more literary).
• Tự phát (adjective): Spontaneous (emphasizing arising from internal impulse).
• Bình thường (adjective): Normal, ordinary.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "Cứ tự nhiên như ở nhà": Please make yourself at home (literally: "Just be natural as if you were at home").
• "Tự nhiên nhi nhiên": (A philosophical/poetic phrase) Naturally so; the state of being perfectly natural and spontaneous, without effort (from Taoist philosophy).
• "Trời sinh voi, trời sinh cỏ": (Idiom) Literally "Heaven creates the elephant, heaven creates the grass." It conveys a concept similar to "nature will provide" or that things in nature have a way of balancing out.

noun

1. nature

adj

1. natural