Keep going
Related words
HSK levels
擅自: HSK 6 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one. See where your old level lands
New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting of the new exam is announced for 13 December 2026, for HSK 1 to 6. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.
Study this word
Keep 擅自 for good.
HSK Lord shows you this card again right before you would forget it, so each review is short and the word stays with you.
Add to my deck, free
10 new cards a day on the free plan, no credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
擅自 (shàn zì) means "without permission; of one's own initiative" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 7-9.
擅自 is pronounced "shàn zì" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 2 syllables.
擅自 is an HSK 7-9 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 6 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one.
擅自 is made up of the characters 擅, 自. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.
You can practice writing 擅自 using our stroke order tool.
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.