yourself
/jɔːˈself/ (bre, ipa) · /jɔːrˈself/ (ame, ipa) · /yər-ˈself Southern also -ˈsef/ (ame, mw)
yourself — 代名詞
1. the word used when you do something to yourself — for example, looking in a mirr
自己
反身代名詞，主詞和受詞都是「你」
the word used when you do something to yourself — for example, looking in a mirror and seeing your face.
Be careful with that knife, Adina — you could cut yourself if you rush.
Adina，那把刀要小心拿——你如果太急可能會割到自己。
you + [physical action verb] + yourself
You should treat yourself to a nice dinner after finishing the project.
專案完成後，你應該好好犒賞自己一頓晚餐。
treat yourself — giving a reward
Did the manager ask you to introduce yourself to the rest of the sales team?
經理有沒有請你向業務團隊的其他成員自我介紹？
If you touch a hot pan on the stove, you will burn yourself badly.
如果你去摸爐子上的熱鍋，會嚴重燙傷自己。
Stop blaming yourself for the mistake — everyone makes errors at work.
不要一直為這個錯誤自責——每個人都會在工作中犯錯。
文法句型
you + [verb] + yourself
you + [verb] + [preposition] + yourself
用法筆記
The reflexive form 'yourself' must be used when the object of the verb refers to the same person as the subject 'you'. Using 'you' instead ('You should treat you') is ungrammatical.
常見錯誤
2. placed next to 'you' or at the end of a sentence to stress that the person addre
親自；本人
強調聽話者本人，非他人
placed next to 'you' or at the end of a sentence to stress that the person addressed — and nobody else — is the one involved or responsible.
You yourself told me the meeting was at two, not three.
你明明自己告訴我會議是兩點，不是三點。
you yourself + [verb of saying] — emphasis on speaker
If you do not trust the garage, you can fix the car yourself.
如果你不相信那家修車廠，你可以自己動手修車。
do [something] yourself — nobody else needed
Did you paint the entire kitchen yourself, Apinya?
Apinya，整個廚房都是你自己油漆的嗎？
The manager said you must solve the problem yourself, without calling IT.
經理說你必須自己解決問題，不能打電話找資訊部門。
You yourself admitted that the plan had serious problems from the start.
你自己也承認，那個計劃從一開始就有嚴重問題。
- personally
adverb, can replace emphatic 'yourself' in some contexts ('You personally handled it.')
- on your own
phrase version of the 'without help' nuance of emphatic 'yourself'
文法句型
you yourself + [verb]
you + [verb] + [object] + yourself
用法筆記
Distinguish from Sense 1: in the emphatic use, 'yourself' can be removed without changing the basic meaning (only the emphasis is lost). In the reflexive use, removing 'yourself' changes who receives the action. Example: 'You yourself said it' (emphatic — 'you said it' still works) vs. 'You hurt yourself' (reflexive — 'you hurt' would mean hurt someone else).
常見錯誤
3. to behave in a natural, relaxed way instead of pretending or trying to impress o
做自己
表現自然，不刻意迎合他人
to behave in a natural, relaxed way instead of pretending or trying to impress others. Used in the fixed phrase 'be yourself'.
On your first day at school, just be yourself and greet people with a smile.
上學第一天，你只要做自己，帶著微笑跟大家打招呼就好。
just be yourself — advice phrase
Before the job interview, just relax and be yourself — they want to meet the real you.
工作面試前，放輕鬆做你自己就好——他們想見的是真實的你。
Stop trying to sound like someone else on the phone — be yourself.
不要在電話裡假裝別人的聲音——做你自己就好。
A good job interview feels natural because you let yourself be yourself.
一場好的工作面試讓你覺得很自然，因為你只要做自己。
- act naturally
more general, not tied to a fixed expression; can apply to any situation
- be genuine
slightly more formal, emphasises honesty over relaxation
- pretend
to act in a way that is not your true character
- put on airs
informal phrase meaning to behave in a superior or artificial way
文法句型
be yourself
just be yourself
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'be yourself' or 'just be yourself'. The form changes to match the subject ('be myself', 'be himself', etc.). Cannot take an object — it is a complete predicate.
常見錯誤
4. either with no other person present near you, or without any assistance or suppo
獨自；靠自己
單獨一人或不靠他人幫助
either with no other person present near you, or without any assistance or support from other people.
Can you carry that heavy box by yourself, or should I help you?
那個重箱子你自己搬得動嗎，還是需要我幫忙？
by yourself — without help
Can you finish this puzzle by yourself, or do you need me to help you?
這個拼圖你自己拼得完嗎，還是需要我幫忙？
You cannot cook a meal for eight people all by yourself — let us help.
你一個人絕對沒辦法煮八人份的晚餐——讓我們幫忙吧。
When you live by yourself, you learn to manage your own time.
當你一個人住的時候，你會學會管理自己的時間。
Did you climb to the top of the hill by yourself, Hana?
Hana，你是自己一個人爬到山頂的嗎？
- alone
adverb; emphasises solitude, not necessarily the absence of help
- on your own
interchangeable in most contexts; slightly more informal
- independently
formal; usually about work or decision-making rather than solitude
文法句型
(all) by yourself
用法筆記
The phrase 'all by yourself' adds emphasis — it can mean either completely alone or without any help at all. The same structure works for other persons ('by myself', 'by himself', etc.).
常見錯誤
5. kept aside or designated only for your personal benefit or use, not to be shared
自己專用
保留給自己使用，不與人共用
kept aside or designated only for your personal benefit or use, not to be shared with others.
You can have the small bedroom for yourself while you stay with us.
你住在我們這裡的期間，小臥室可以歸你自己使用。
have [something] for yourself — exclusive use
Keep one slice of cake for yourself and give the rest to the guests.
留一塊蛋糕給自己，其他的分給客人。
keep [something] for yourself
You should keep the party details to yourself until everyone arrives.
在所有人到場之前，派對細節你應該先保密。
If you arrive early, you can grab a quiet table for yourself in the cafe.
如果你早到的話，可以在咖啡廳佔一張安靜的桌子自己用。
- exclusively yours
formal, emphasises that something is not shared
- personal
adjective; describes something intended for one person's use
- shared
used or owned by more than one person
文法句型
for yourself
keep/have something for yourself
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 4 when 'by yourself' means 'without help'. The difference: 'for yourself' emphasises exclusive benefit or ownership, while 'by yourself' emphasises doing something alone or unaided.
6. to feel or appear different from your usual mood or energy level — less happy, l
不對勁
情緒或身體不如平常好
to feel or appear different from your usual mood or energy level — less happy, less healthy, or less lively than normal.
You seem very quiet tonight, Tariq — are you not feeling yourself?
Tariq，你今晚話好少——是不是哪裡不舒服？
not feeling yourself — concerned question
I know something is wrong because you have not been yourself all week.
我知道一定有事情不對勁，你整個星期都不像平常的自己。
have not been yourself — period of change
Forgive my sharp words earlier, Lucas — I am not myself when I am tired.
Lucas，剛剛說話太衝了請見諒——我累了就會變成這樣。
Ever since you argued with your boss, you have not seemed yourself at all.
自從你跟老闆吵架之後，你整個人就完全不對勁。
- off
informal, very common in conversation ('I feel off today.')
- out of sorts
slightly old-fashioned but still common in British English
- under the weather
informal idiom, usually about physical illness rather than mood
- fine
feeling normal and well
- back to normal
phrase meaning returned to your usual state
文法句型
[subject] + [be/seem/feel] + not + yourself
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the negative pattern (not/never yourself). The affirmative 'you are yourself' is used in a different sense (Sense 7 — asking about illness recovery) or in the 'act naturally' sense. Never say 'You are yourself today' when you simply mean 'You are fine.'
常見錯誤
7. used in questions to ask if someone has recovered from being sick or upset and f
恢復了嗎？
生病後關心精神狀態的問候
used in questions to ask if someone has recovered from being sick or upset and feels normal again.
I heard you had a terrible flu — are you feeling yourself again now?
聽說你得了重感冒——現在感覺好一點了嗎？
are you feeling yourself again? — recovery question
The fever broke last night, but do you feel yourself yet, Élise?
Élise，昨晚退燒了，但你現在覺得恢復了嗎？
do you feel yourself yet? — checking recovery
After the surgery the doctor asked, 'Are you yourself today?'
手術後，醫生問：「今天感覺還好嗎？」
You look much better this morning — do you feel yourself again?
你今天早上看起來好多了——覺得恢復正常了嗎？
- back to normal
the most common everyday substitute; works for both physical and mental state
- recovered
more formal, usually about physical health only
- still sick
continuing to be ill
文法句型
are you (feeling) yourself again?
do you feel yourself yet?
用法筆記
Distinguish from Sense 6: Sense 6 ('not yourself') describes an ongoing state of feeling off, while this sense asks about recovery toward normal after a specific illness. The question 'Are you yourself again?' is positive and hopeful, unlike the worried tone of 'Are you not feeling yourself?'
常見錯誤
8. used in statements about people in general, where 'you' stands for anyone and 'y
自己（泛指）
泛指一般人的反身用法
used in statements about people in general, where 'you' stands for anyone and 'yourself' reflects back to that general person, like saying 'oneself' in formal English.
In a new city, you can find yourself walking in circles for an hour.
來到一個陌生的城市，你可能會繞路走了一個小時還找不到方向。
find yourself + [doing] — general experience
When you are angry, you should not let yourself say things you regret.
生氣的時候，你不該讓自己說出會後悔的話。
let yourself + [verb] — general advice
You have to push yourself if you want to improve at any new skill.
如果你想學會任何新技能，就必須鞭策自己。
In a difficult situation, you can teach yourself to stay calm.
在困難的情況下，你可以訓練自己保持冷靜。
If you always compare yourself to others, you will never be happy.
如果你總是拿自己和別人比較，你永遠不會快樂。
- oneself
formal equivalent, used in academic and formal writing
文法句型
you + [verb] + yourself (general meaning 'one + [verb] + oneself')
you should + [verb] + yourself
用法筆記
In formal writing, this general sense is often replaced by 'one... oneself' ('One should not let oneself say things one regrets'). In spoken English and informal writing, the 'you... yourself' pattern is standard. The meaning is impersonal — it applies to all people, not just the person being addressed in the moment.