In grammar, a word that can stand alone to express meaning or sentence elements (e.g., nouns, verbs, adjectives). Contrasts with 'bound words' like particles or auxiliaries.
『走る』は自立語だが、『ます』は付属語だ。
'Hashiru' (to run) is an independent word, whereas 'masu' is a bound element.
日本語の自立語には名詞・動詞・形容詞が含まれる。
Japanese independent words include nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
文法の授業で自立語と付属語を区別する練習をした。
In grammar class we practiced distinguishing independent words from bound words.