yourself
Meaning: Used to refer to the person being addressed as the object of a verb or preposition
The reflexive pronoun 'yourself' is used when 'you' is both the subject and object of a verb (hurt yourself), or for emphasis (you yourself said so). It can also be used to mean 'alone' or 'without help' (do it yourself). The plural form is 'yourselves.' In British informal speech, 'yourself' is sometimes used instead of 'you' for politeness.
Examples
- Don't be too hard on yourself. 别对自己太苛刻。No seas tan duro contigo mismo.自分に厳しくしすぎないでください。자기 자신에게 너무 엄격하게 굴지 마세요.
- Did you make this yourself? 这是你自己做的吗?¿Hiciste esto tú mismo?これはあなた自身で作りましたか?이것을 직접 만드셨나요?
- Help yourself to more tea. 请随便喝茶。Sírvete más té.お茶をご自由にどうぞ。차 더 마음껏 드세요.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
A compound of 'your' + 'self', formed in Middle English. The reflexive pronoun pattern (myself, yourself, himself) replaced the older Old English construction using a separate reflexive pronoun.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Abstract Concepts
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free