自分・じぶん (jibun)

Meaning & usage

自分 refers to oneself in contrast to other people and highlights that an action, possession, or viewpoint belongs to the speaker or another subject. It is a noun that takes particles like 自分で for doing something alone, 自分の for possession, and 自分から for acting on one's own initiative, with 自分自身 adding extra emphasis. It can refer to any person, so context decides whether it means myself, yourself, or themselves.

Example sentences 5

1. 私わたしは自分じぶんだけでその仕事しごとを終おわらせたいのです。

   I want to finish the work on my own.

2. その生地を自分の目で見た方がいい。

   You had better see the cloth with your own eyes.

3. 夕飯は毎日自分で作ります。

   I make dinner myself every day.

4. 今すぐ自分でやりなさい。

   Do it yourself and do it right away.

5. 自分でなんとかするよ。

   I'll take care of it myself.