学习英语已有十余年，渐觉英语大部分的单词意思并不能如一般单词书用几个中文词汇所概括。不同的语言都是建立在各自使用民族的逻辑思维以及对世界的认识之上，汉语如此，英语亦然。于是，不同的民族之间世界观的差异，必定导致语言的差异。例如“龙”在中国人心中是一种崇高的存在，而“dragon”在英语中却更多是一种邪恶的存在（英式英语中还可以表示为悍妇、母夜叉）。虽然“dragon”是约定俗成“龙”最好的翻译，但是这种译法仍然不能真正向外国人表达出龙真正的含义。
然而，有时一些词意和来源却惊人地一致。例如“自然”和“nature”。这两个词，如今都表示大自然，指非人为的一切存在物及其运动变化和联系规律。
nature一词来自拉丁文，本意是天地万物的内在特性
The word nature is derived from the Latin word natura, or "essential qualities, innate disposition", and in ancient times, literally meant "birth".[1] Natura was a Latin translation of the Greek word physis (φύσις), which originally related to the intrinsic characteristics that plants, animals, and other features of the world develop of their own accord（from wikipedia）
自然一词出自老子的《道德经》人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。至于老子的“自然”的意思，自古以来都认为是“不可言”的。王弼的老子道德经注是重要的注释之一，对于本句的自然，王弼注：
自然者，无称之言、穷极之辞也。
也有唐时的《本际经》就老庄思想体系推出：
自然而然，不可使然，不可不然，故曰自然。
结合自然的字面意思，解析大概就是指自己如此，事物按照自己的属性运转。如此一来与nature的意思就很贴近。
附上牛津字典的nature
nature noun
plants, animals
(also Nature) [uncountable] all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people
the beauties of nature
man-made substances not found in nature
nature conservation
You cannot use ‘the nature’ in this meaning:the beauties of the nature. It is often better to use another appropriate word, for example the countryside, the scenery or wildlife:We stopped to admire the scenery.We stopped to admire the nature.
(also Nature) [uncountable] the way that things happen in the physical world when it is not controlled by people
the forces/laws of nature
Just let nature take its course.
Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less.
see also Mother Nature
character
[countable, uncountable] the usual way that a person or an animal behaves that is part of their character
It's not in his nature to be unkind.
She is very sensitive by nature.
We appealed to his better nature (= his kindness).
see also good nature, human nature, second nature
basic qualities
[singular] the basic qualities of a thing
the changing nature of society
It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem.
My work is very specialized in nature.
The future by its very nature is uncertain.
type/kind
[singular] a type or kind of something
books of a scientific nature
Don't worry about things of that nature.
-natured
(in adjectives) having the type of character or quality mentioned
a good-natured man
Word Family
Word Origin
Extra examples
Idioms
against nature
not natural; not moral
Murder is a crime against nature.
(get, go, etc.) back to nature
(to return to) a simple kind of life in the country, away from cities
When you’re camping, you can get back to nature.
the call of nature
(humorous) the need to go to the toilet
the forces of nature
the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm
They were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature.
in the nature of something
similar to something; a type of something; in the style of something
His speech was in the nature of an apology.
in the nature of things
in the way that things usually happen
In the nature of things, young people often rebel against their parents.