- 自 prepositionfromfrom; since; used in formal or written contexts to indicate a starting point in time or space
- 始 nounadverbbeginning(bound form) the beginning; the start; the origin
- 至 prepositiontoto; until; used in written Chinese to connect two points in time, space, or quantity
- 终 終 adverbadjectiveend(bound form) end; finish; the final stage or conclusion of something, opposite of 始