Word
yourself
Phoneticsyour·self, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈjɔɹsɛɫf/
UK/jɔːsˈɛlf/
Definitions
01reflexive use
A1 · Beginner
pron. you use this when the person doing the action and the person receiving the action are the same.
pron. the reflexive form of 'you', used as an object when the subject of the clause is also 'you'.
日本語:自分※
“You should be proud of yourself for passing that difficult exam.”
“If you find yourself struggling with the workload, please do not hesitate to contact your supervisor for additional support.”
Usage
Always used in the singular; the plural form is 'yourselves'.
Pitfall
You can do it by your own.
You can do it by yourself.
Use 'by yourself' or 'on your own' to mean alone, but do not mix the two phrases.
02for emphasis
A2 · Elementary
pron. you use this to emphasize that 'you' are the one doing something, and not someone else.
pron. used as an intensive pronoun to emphasize the identity of the subject or to indicate that the subject acted alone.
日本語:自分※
“Did you bake this delicious cake yourself?”
“The CEO suggested that you yourself should lead the presentation, given your intimate knowledge of the project's history.”
Usage
Can be placed immediately after 'you' or at the end of the clause for emphasis.
Synonyms
03normal state of mind
B1 · Intermediate
pron. your usual or healthy way of acting and feeling.
pron. referring to one's normal, healthy, or characteristic state of mind or body.
“You haven't been yourself lately; is everything okay at home?”
“It may take several weeks of rest before you truly feel like yourself again after such a major operation.”
Usage
Often used after the verb 'to be' or 'to feel'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English yourself, equivalent to your + -self.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/yourself
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0