자체

In a sentence

• 이 제품 자체가 고장이 났어요.

  The product itself is malfunctioning.

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

• 공부 자체는 어렵지 않아요.

  The act of studying itself is not difficult.

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

• 자유로움 그 자체와 같은 기분이에요.

  It feels like freedom itself.

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