[count]:the person that someone normally or truly is(人的)本来面貌,真实状况,惯常状态 — used to describe the way someone acts or feels用于描述某人的行为或感觉
He's just not his usual/normal self today.他今天不太正常。
She was her old self again after some sleep. [=she returned to behaving/feeling as she normally did after some sleep]睡了一会儿后,她又恢复了原样。
He was a mere ghost/shadow of his former self after the illness. [=he was much weaker after his illness]生病之后,他虚弱得不成样子。
She showed her true/real self. [=she stopped pretending and showed what type of person she really was]她展现了真实的自我。
2
[count]:a particular part of your personality or character that is shown in a particular situation(某种情况下展现出的)本性中的一面,自我
She showed her better self at the party.她在聚会上展现了自己本性中好的一面。
Her public self is very different from her private self.她人前人后的表现截然不同。
He started taking yoga and meditation classes to get in touch with his inner self. [=the emotional and spiritual part of himself]为了同内在的自我交流,他开始上瑜伽冥想课。
3
[noncount]:the personality or character that makes a person different from other people:the combination of emotions, thoughts, feelings, etc., that make a person different from others个性;自我;本身
We each develop a unique sense of self. [=a unique idea about who we are]我们彼此形成了不同的自我意识。
Philosophers have written about the conception/idea of the self.哲学家们论述了自我的概念。
4
[noncount]formal:your own personal interest or advantage个人利益;一己之私
She helped without any thought of self. [=without any thought of trying to make things better for herself]她乐于助人,不考虑个人利益。
5
[count] — used to refer to a person(指一个人)自己,本人
a photo of her younger self她年轻时的照片
He puts his whole self into each and every game. [=he tries very hard to play his best in each game]每次比赛他都全身心地投入。
(informal) “Go get me another beer.” “You can get it your (own) damn self!”“再去给我倒一杯啤酒。”“你这该死的人自己去倒!”
(informal) I could barely drag my sorry self out of bed.我伤心得起不来床。
Noun She showed her better self at the party. Her public self is very different from her private self. Philosophers have written about the conception of the self. Adjective a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The paradox — and possibly the greatest feat — of her reign was her ability to be so visibly dutiful for so long without revealing her inner self. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 The 5-year-old hasn't sounded like his happy self on the phone, Martin said. James Pollard, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 On social media, his bios all revolve around his self proclaimed goal of making the world a better place. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2022 Davis: To reiterate Nyki, it’s showing up as your full self, unapologetically. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 6 Sep. 2022 The 5-year-old hasn’t sounded like his happy self on the phone, Martin said. James Pollard, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 You are primed to be your most efficient and your most interesting self at this time.Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The Spider-Man star took a moment to share the day with her fans as well, posting a message thanking them for the birthday wishes on Instagram along with a photo of her adorable child self enjoying some pool time. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 Sep. 2022 My reality self felt like a dirty old man who needed to pay to play. Michael Rasky, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Pronoun
Middle English (intensive pronoun), from Old English; akin to Old High German selb, intensive pronoun, and probably to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide
ADJECTIVE | VERB + SELF | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤whole整個自我◇He put his whole self into the performance.他全身心地投入到演出之中。➤real, true真實的自我;本來面目▸➤inner, innermost內心的自我;內心深處的想法➤own自我◇It was the battle against my own self.那是一場與自我的戰鬥。➤private, public私下的/公眾面前的自我◇Her private and public selves were vastly different.她人後的面目和人前的形象大為不同。➤normal, usual正常的自我;個人的正常狀態➤other另一個自我◇He has a running dialogue with his other self.他和他內心的另一個自我進行了長時間的對話。➤former, old, past以前的樣子;昔日的狀態;過去的自己◇She knew that with a rest he would be back to his former self.她知道,只要休個假他就可以恢復往日的丰采。➤new完全不同的自我➤younger年輕時的自己➤future未來的自己▸➤bubbly, cheerful, happy熱情的/樂天的/快樂的天性◇He's his usual cheerful self again.他又恢復了他慣常的樂天性格。➤better人性中善良的一面◇a book about reaching for one's better self一本關於追求人性真善美的書➤conscious有意識的自我;自覺▸➤physical生理自我➤higher, spiritual精神自我➤human, individual人性之自我;個性▸➤good (humorous, especially BrE) 尊駕◇We look forward to seeing Mrs Brown and your good self this evening.我們盼着今晚能看見布朗夫人和尊駕。VERB + SELF➤reveal顯露本性◇He was afraid to reveal his innermost self.他不敢暴露自己內心的情感。➤discover, find發現/找到本性◇a movie about a boy who falls in love and finds his true self in the process一部關於墜入愛河的男孩在戀愛中發現自我的影片➤express表達自我PHRASES➤a loss of self自我的喪失▸➤a sense of self自我意識▸➤a shadow of your former self不如當年➤note to self給自我的提示◇I was very thirsty (note to self: bring water on walks!).我當時很渴(提醒自己:散步時帶上水!)。