zì自selfrán然thusér而andrán然thus
Naturally; of its own accord.
Literal meaning
self (自) — thus (然) — and (而) — thus (然)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing something happening without external intervention.
Examples
Shìqing zìrán'érrán de fāshēng le.事情自然而然地发生了。
The matter happened naturally.
Suízhe shíjiān de tuīyí, gǎnqíng zìrán'érrán de chǎnshēng le.随着时间的推移，感情自然而然地产生了。
As time passed, feelings arose naturally.
Usage & nuances
Implies a lack of effort or planning.
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