personally
/ˈpɜːsənəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpɜːrsənəli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpərs-nə-lē ˈpər-sə-nə-/ (ame, mw)
personally — adverb
1. marks the speaker's own view about something, rather than an official fact or a
marks the speaker's own view about something, rather than an official fact or a shared opinion.
Personally, I would take the morning train instead of driving.
sentence adverb: Personally, + opinion
Personally, Maya thinks the blue poster looks too busy.
The film won prizes, but personally I found it too long.
Personally, we should wait until the rain stops.
As for dinner, I personally prefer noodles to rice.
- for me
more conversational and less formal in structure
- in my view
slightly more formal and often used in discussion or writing
- to my mind
less common and a little more literary
文法句型
Personally, + clause
subject + personally + think / prefer / feel
用法筆記
Usually placed at the start of the clause, or just before verbs such as 'think', 'prefer', and 'feel'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 1 introduces a view, while sense 5 contrasts private life with a public or professional role.
常見錯誤
2. concerning one person alone rather than a whole group, organization, or general
concerning one person alone rather than a whole group, organization, or general situation.
Rina was not personally responsible for the missing cash.
personally + responsible
The new fee will personally affect only families with two cars.
Each player is personally liable for damage to borrowed equipment.
Only three workers were personally involved in the safety failure.
- individually
closest in meaning; often used for one-by-one treatment
- directly
overlaps when the effect reaches one person without going through others
- privately
not usually a synonym here; it stresses secrecy or private life instead of individual impact
- collectively
as a group rather than one by one
- generally
about most people, not one person in particular
文法句型
personally + responsible / liable / affected / involved
用法筆記
Common with adjectives and past participles that show duty, blame, risk, or effect, especially 'responsible', 'liable', 'affected', and 'involved'. Distinguish from sense 3: here the focus is on who is concerned by the matter, not on who carried out the action directly.
常見錯誤
3. by doing something yourself, or by being there in person, instead of letting som
by doing something yourself, or by being there in person, instead of letting someone else do it for you.
Dr. Chen personally called the family after the test results arrived.
verb + personally for direct action
The shop owner personally showed us how to fold the tent.
Ava delivered the cake personally instead of sending a driver.
The director came personally to thank the kitchen staff.
Our landlord personally fixed the kitchen tap that evening.
- through someone else
with another person acting for you
- by proxy
especially in formal situations where another person represents you
文法句型
verb + personally
come / visit / call + personally
用法筆記
Usually modifies an action verb and emphasizes that the named person did the act with their own effort or presence. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 answers 'who did it?', while sense 2 answers 'who was affected or held responsible?'.
常見錯誤
4. so that words or actions are aimed at someone as a person and feel hurtful or in
so that words or actions are aimed at someone as a person and feel hurtful or insulting.
The article criticized the policy sharply but never attacked the minister personally.
attack + person + personally
During the argument, Ben personally mocked his sister's accent.
Maya felt personally hurt when her joke was repeated online.
The coach warned reporters not to mock teenage players personally after a bad game.
- as a personal attack
a fuller phrase with almost the same meaning
- offensively
focuses on causing offense, not necessarily on targeting one individual
- insultingly
stronger and more openly rude in tone
- impersonally
without targeting anyone's feelings or identity
- objectively
focused on the issue rather than on the person
文法句型
personally + attack / blame / mock
feel + personally + hurt
用法筆記
Often appears with verbs of criticism or with adjectives such as 'hurt' and 'offended'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 4 is about blame or insult aimed at a person, while sense 5 is about someone's private life or private relationship.
常見錯誤
5. with reference to someone's private relationships or life outside work, office,
with reference to someone's private relationships or life outside work, office, or public duty.
Reporters knew the actor from interviews, but Lila knew her personally.
know + person + personally
Few parents knew the head teacher personally before the school trip.
Although many voters recognized the mayor, only neighbors knew him personally.
The senator could not attend officially, but she came personally after work.
- privately
close when contrasting public role and private life
- as a private person
longer phrase that makes the contrast very explicit
- outside work
informal phrase focusing on life beyond a job
- officially
in an official role or with official approval
- professionally
in connection with work rather than private life
文法句型
know / own / support + personally
officially ... personally ...
用法筆記
Often contrasts with 'officially', 'professionally', or another word showing a public role. With verbs such as 'know', it means a private relationship, not just public recognition.