自分・じぶん (jibun)

Meaning & usage

自分 refers back to the subject of the sentence and corresponds to myself, yourself, himself, herself, themselves depending on context. It behaves like a noun, so possession uses 自分の followed by a noun as in 自分の車, doing something alone uses 自分で, and it can take particles like を, が, は, or に to act as subject or object. A common pitfall is translating it always as myself, since in a sentence with あなた or 彼 as subject it means yourself or himself.

Example sentences 7

1. 私わたしは自分じぶんの仕事しごとが気きに入いっている。

   I am very pleased with my job.

2. なんでも自分で手がけると、いとおしくなるものです。

   Whatever it is, you become fonder of it if you work on it yourself.

3. 自分を安売りしてはいけない。

   Don't sell yourself short.

4. 自分のことは自分でできます。

   I can take care of myself.

5. 私は自分の車で旅するのを好む。

   I prefer to travel in my car.

6. 私はこの服を自分で作りました。

   I made this clothing myself.

7. 毎朝、駅の時計で自分の時計を合わせます。

   Every morning I set my watch by the station clock.