Reflexive pronouns are pronouns used when the subject and the object of a verb refer to the same person or thing. They “reflect” the action back to the subject, showing that someone does something to themselves. In English, they usually end in -self or -selves.

English reflexive pronouns match a personal pronoun in person, number, and gender where relevant. Singular forms end in -self, and plural forms end in -selves. Some forms are irregular in spelling, especially the plural of self.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
myself	👤 myself	reflexive for I	I 的反身形式	I taught myself to cook.	我自己学会了做饭。
yourself	👤 yourself	reflexive for you singular	你 的反身形式（单数）	You should treat yourself with respect.	你应该尊重自己。
himself	👤 himself	reflexive for he	他 的反身形式	He blamed himself for the mistake.	他为这个错误责怪了自己。
herself	👤 herself	reflexive for she	她 的反身形式	She cut herself while cooking.	她在做饭时割伤了自己。
itself	👤 itself	reflexive for it	它 的反身形式	The cat cleaned itself.	这只猫自己清洁了自己。
ourselves	👥 ourselves	reflexive for we	我们 的反身形式	We prepared ourselves for the exam.	我们自己为考试做了准备。
yourselves	👥 yourselves	reflexive for you plural	你们 的反身形式（复数）	Please help yourselves to some water.	请自行取用一些水。
themselves	👥 themselves	reflexive for they	他们 的反身形式	They introduced themselves to the class.	他们向全班介绍了自己。

Reflexive pronouns most often appear as the object of a verb or preposition when the same person is both doer and receiver. A common pattern is Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun, especially with actions people can direct toward themselves. They can also follow a preposition when someone does something by, for, or to themselves.

Some verbs commonly take a reflexive pronoun to make the meaning clear when the subject and object are the same. Without the reflexive, the sentence may sound incomplete or may change meaning. This is especially common with verbs about injury, blame, control, preparation, and introduction.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use a reflexive when the subject acts on the same person as the object	📌 当主语对同一人作为宾语时使用反身代词	She hurt herself.	📝 她伤了自己。
Use a reflexive to avoid ambiguity when the verb normally takes an object	📌 为避免歧义，在动词通常需要宾语时使用反身代词	He introduced himself.	📝 他介绍了自己。
Use a reflexive after a preposition when it refers back to the subject	📌 在介词后使用反身代词，当它指回主语	He was talking to himself.	📝 他在和自己说话。

Sometimes a reflexive pronoun is optional because the verb can be intransitive and still make sense. Adding the reflexive makes the action feel more deliberate, careful, or clearly self-directed. In these cases, English often allows both versions with a slight difference in emphasis.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Reflexive can add emphasis to a self-directed action that could be implied	📌 反身代词可为自我主导的行动增加强调	He dressed. He dressed himself.	📝 他穿好了衣服。 他自己穿好了衣服。
Reflexive can highlight personal effort or responsibility	📌 反身代词可突出个人努力或责任	She learned French. She learned French herself.	📝 她学会了法语。她自己学会了法语。

Reflexive pronouns are different from object pronouns like me, him, and them. Use an object pronoun when the object is a different person from the subject, and use a reflexive pronoun when they are the same. Choosing the wrong type changes the meaning or makes the sentence ungrammatical.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Different people: use an object pronoun	📌 不同的人：使用宾格代词	She saw him.	📝 她看见了他。
Same person: use a reflexive pronoun	📌 同一个人：使用反身代词	She saw herself in the mirror.	📝 她在镜子里看到了自己。
Reflexives cannot replace subject pronouns	📌 反身代词不能替代主语代词	He and I did it.	📝 他和我做了这件事。

Reflexive pronouns can also be used as intensive pronouns to add emphasis, meaning the person did something personally. In this use, the pronoun does not function as an object; it emphasizes the subject or another noun. Intensive pronouns are often removable without changing the basic meaning, only the emphasis.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Place after the noun or pronoun it emphasizes	📌 放在它强调的名词或代词之后	The CEO herself answered the email.	📝 首席执行官本人回答了这封邮件。
Place after the verb for emphasis on the subject	📌 将其放在动词之后以强调主语	I made the cake myself.	📝 我自己做了这个蛋糕。
If you can remove it and the grammar stays intact, it is likely intensive	📌 如果你可以移除它而语法仍然成立，则很可能是强调用	They fixed the problem themselves.	📝 他们自己解决了这个问题。

The phrase by + reflexive pronoun has two common meanings in English. It can mean alone without other people, or it can mean without help, emphasizing independence. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
by + reflexive meaning alone	📌 by + 反身代词 的含义：独自一人	She lives by herself.	📝 她独自一人生活。
by + reflexive meaning without help	📌 by + 反身代词 的含义：没有帮助	He built the desk by himself.	📝 他自己独立地做了这张桌子。

Choose the reflexive pronoun that matches the subject in person and number. With you, use yourself for singular and yourselves for plural when the number is clear from context. For animals, objects, or situations referred to as it, use itself.

Reflexive pronouns usually appear right after the verb they relate to or after the object they emphasize. In emphasis use, they can move, but they should stay close to the word they intensify to avoid confusion. They are typically not separated by commas unless the sentence structure requires it for other reasons.