A reflexive verb shows that the subject and the object are the same person or thing. The action “reflects back” to the subject, so the subject both does and receives the action. In English, reflexive meaning is usually expressed with a reflexive pronoun like myself or themselves. Reflexive meaning is different from ordinary transitive meaning, where the action happens to someone else.

English forms reflexive verbs by pairing a verb with a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. The reflexive pronoun is required when the object is the same as the subject, and it must agree in person and number. Reflexive pronouns are also used for emphasis, but that is a different function from reflexive meaning.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
myself	🧩 我自己	first person singular reflexive pronoun	🧩 第一人称单数反身代词	I taught myself to cook.	🧩 我自己学会了做饭。
yourself	🧩 你自己	second person singular reflexive pronoun	🧩 第二人称单数反身代词	You should treat yourself kindly.	🧩 你应该善待自己。
himself	🧩 他自己	third person singular masculine reflexive pronoun	🧩 第三人称单数男性反身代词	He introduced himself to the team.	🧩 他在团队中向自己介绍。
herself	🧩 她自己	third person singular feminine reflexive pronoun	🧩 第三人称单数女性反身代词	She blamed herself for the mistake.	🧩 她为这个错误自责。
itself	🧩 它自己	third person singular inanimate or animal reflexive pronoun	🧩 第三人称单数无生命物或动物反身代词	The cat cleaned itself.	🧩 那只猫把自己打扫干净。
ourselves	🧩 我们自己	first person plural reflexive pronoun	🧩 第一人称复数反身代词	We prepared ourselves for the exam.	🧩 我们为考试做好了准备。
yourselves	🧩 你们自己	second person plural reflexive pronoun	🧩 第二人称复数反身代词	Please help yourselves to snacks.	🧩 请自己取用零食。
themselves	🧩 他们自己	third person plural reflexive pronoun	🧩 第三人称复数反身代词	They described themselves in one sentence.	🧩 他们用一句话描述了自己。

Many English reflexive verbs are ordinary verbs that can be used transitively, intransitively, or reflexively depending on meaning. A verb is reflexive in a sentence when the object is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject. Not all verbs work naturally with reflexive objects, so reflexive usage often reflects common collocations and typical meanings. Some reflexive meanings can also be expressed without a reflexive pronoun when English prefers an intransitive pattern.

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject does something to itself and English expects an object. Without the reflexive pronoun, the sentence may be incomplete or may change meaning by implying a different object. This is common with verbs like hurt, blame, and introduce when the receiver is the same as the doer. If the verb naturally takes a direct object, reflexive pronouns make that object clearly identical to the subject.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use a reflexive pronoun when the verb needs an object and the object is the subject	📌 当动词需要宾语且宾语是主语时使用反身代词	He hurt himself.	📌 He hurt himself.
Use a reflexive pronoun to prevent the listener from assuming another object	📌 使用反身代词以防止听者误以为有其他宾语	She introduced herself to the manager.	📌 She introduced herself to the manager.
Keep agreement between the subject and the reflexive pronoun	📌 让主语与反身代词在人称和数上保持一致	We congratulated ourselves.	📌 We congratulated ourselves.

Sometimes English allows the reflexive pronoun but does not require it because the verb can be intransitive with the same meaning. In these cases, adding the reflexive pronoun can sound more deliberate, formal, or emphatic, but the basic reflexive idea may already be clear. This is common with actions people do to their own bodies or daily routines. When the meaning stays the same, prefer the simpler intransitive form in neutral style.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
If the verb is naturally intransitive, the reflexive pronoun can be omitted	📌 如果动词本身自然是不及物的，可以省略反身代词	He shaved.	📌 He shaved.
Adding the reflexive pronoun can sound more explicit or emphatic	📌 添加反身代词会显得更明确或强调	He shaved himself.	📌 He shaved himself.
For routine actions, English often prefers the non-reflexive form	📌 对于日常动作，英语通常偏好非反身形式	She dressed quickly.	📌 She dressed quickly.

Reflexive meaning is about one subject acting on itself, while reciprocal meaning is about two or more subjects acting on each other. English often uses each other or one another for reciprocal meaning, not reflexive pronouns. Confusing the two can change meaning: they hurt themselves means each person hurt their own body, while they hurt each other means they hurt one another. Choosing the right structure depends on whether the action stays within each individual or goes between people.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same	📌 当主语和宾语相同时使用反身代词	They introduced themselves.	📌 They introduced themselves.
Use each other or one another for mutual actions between people	📌 在人与人之间的互相动作中使用 each other 或 one another	They introduced each other.	📌 They introduced each other.

Reflexive pronouns also have an emphatic, or intensive, use where they emphasize the subject rather than act as an object. In emphatic use, the sentence would still be grammatical if you remove the pronoun, and the pronoun often appears right after the subject or at the end of the clause. In reflexive use, the pronoun is an object required by the verb’s meaning and grammar. Distinguishing these uses helps you interpret sentences like I made it myself, where myself emphasizes who did it, not who received the action.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
If removing the pronoun changes grammar or meaning, it is reflexive	📌 如果移除代词改变了语法或意义，则为反身	She blamed herself.	📌 She blamed herself.
If removing the pronoun keeps the sentence grammatical with similar meaning, it is emphatic	📌 如果移除代词在保持句子语法的同时语义相近，则为强调	She herself fixed the problem.	📌 She herself fixed the problem.
Emphatic pronouns often appear after the subject or at clause end	📌 强调性代词常出现在主语之后或句末	I met the director myself.	📌 I met the director myself.

Reflexive pronouns can be objects of prepositions when the prepositional phrase refers back to the subject. This is common after by, for, to, and with when the meaning is self-directed or self-contained. A frequent pattern is by myself, meaning alone, which is not reflexive action but a fixed phrase showing independence. When a preposition requires an object, the reflexive pronoun must still match the subject.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition when it refers back to the subject	📌 当介词指回主语时，在介词后使用反身代词	I kept the secret to myself.	📌 I kept the secret to myself.
By myself is a common phrase meaning alone	📌 By myself 是一个常用短语，意思是独自一人	She traveled by herself.	📌 She traveled by herself.
Keep agreement between subject and reflexive pronoun in prepositional phrases	📌 在介词短语中保持主语与反身代词在人称和数上的一致	They did it by themselves.	📌 They did it by themselves.

Some verbs are especially common in reflexive constructions because they often describe actions directed toward the self, such as blaming, preparing, and introducing. Learning these as frequent patterns helps you sound natural and understand reflexive meaning quickly. Many of these verbs can also take non-reflexive objects when the action is directed at someone else. The key is whether the reflexive pronoun points back to the subject in that specific sentence.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
introduce oneself	🧩 介绍自己	say who you are to others	🧩 告诉他人你是谁	He introduced himself at the meeting.	🧩 He introduced himself at the meeting.
blame oneself	🧩 自我责备	hold yourself responsible	🧩 把自己负责	She blamed herself for the delay.	🧩 She blamed herself for the delay.
prepare oneself	🧩 让自己做好准备	get ready mentally or physically	🧩 在心理上或身体上做好准备	We prepared ourselves for the interview.	🧩 We prepared ourselves for the interview.
enjoy oneself	🧩 尽情享受自己	have a good time	🧩 玩得开心	They enjoyed themselves at the party.	🧩 They enjoyed themselves at the party.
cut oneself	🧩 自伤自己	injure yourself with something sharp	🧩 用锋利物伤到自己	I cut myself while cooking.	🧩 I cut myself while cooking.
teach oneself	🧩 自学	learn without a teacher	🧩 在没有老师的情况下学习	He taught himself Spanish.	🧩 He taught himself Spanish.

Reflexive pronouns improve clarity when it might be unclear who receives the action, especially with third person subjects. They also help avoid ambiguity in longer sentences with multiple possible objects. In formal writing, reflexive pronouns should be used only when they are grammatically justified as reflexive or emphatic, not as a replacement for me or him. Choosing the reflexive form should always be driven by meaning and structure, not by a desire to sound more formal.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use a reflexive pronoun to remove ambiguity about the object	📌 使用反身代词以消除关于宾语的歧义	Alex reminded himself to call.	📌 Alex 提醒自己打电话。
Do not use reflexive pronouns as a formal substitute for object pronouns	📌 不要把反身代词作为对象代词的正式替代	She spoke to me.	📌 She spoke to me.
Prefer the simplest natural structure when no ambiguity exists	📌 当没有歧义存在时，偏好最简单自然的结构	They sat down.	📌 They sat down.