"자" is a Korean character that represents the sound "ja." It is part of the Hangul writing system, which was created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great. Hangul consists of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, and "자" is formed by combining the consonant "ㅈ" (jiyeok) with the vowel "ㅏ" (a). In addition to its phonetic use, "자" can also mean "self" or "oneself" in Korean. This meaning is often used in various contexts, such as in the word "자아" (self-identity) or "자신" (oneself). Understanding "자" is essential for grasping the nuances of the Korean language.