자체

자체

"자체" means "itself" or "in itself."

Here, '자체' emphasizes that it is 'the product itself'—not a component or anything else—that is experiencing the issue.

이 제품 자체가 고장이 났어요.

The product itself is malfunctioning.

Here, '자체' highlights that it is the action of studying—not the circumstances around it—that is being referred to.

공부 자체는 어렵지 않아요.

The act of studying itself is not difficult.

In this case, '자체' is used metaphorically to express the essence or quintessence of freedom.

자유로움 그 자체와 같은 기분이에요.

It feels like freedom itself.