"Oneself" with 自己 and 亲自
The pronoun 自己
The pronoun 自己 
is used in the following meanings:
1) "one's own (oneself)"
It is placed before a predicate and describes the way of action. It can be used independently or after other personal pronouns. For example:
他自己
我自己
is used in the following meanings:
1) "one's own (oneself)"
It is placed before a predicate and describes the way of action. It can be used independently or after other personal pronouns. For example:
他自己
我自己 Examples
你必须自己做饭
You have to cook by yourself
nǐ bìxū zìjǐ zuò fàn
我自己会说，谢谢了！
I'll say it myself, thank you!
wǒ zìjǐ huì shuō, xièxie le
2) "oneself".
In this case, 自己 serves as an object and means "to do in relation to someone".
Examples
别让自己染上恶习
Don't let yourself get into bad habits
bié ràng zìjǐ rǎn shàng èxí
你伤着自己了吗？
Did you hurt yourself?
nǐ shāngzháo zìjǐ le ma
3) "own" (possession).
In this case, 自己 serves as an attribute and is used with the particle 的 after it.
after it.Examples
那是她自己的主意
It was her own idea
nà shì tā zìjǐ de zhǔyì
他们不愿表达自己的感情
They don't want to express their feelings
tāmen bú yuàn biǎodá zìjǐ de gǎnqíng
The adverb 亲自
The adverb 亲自 placed before a predicate.
placed before a predicate. Pay attention
In this case, 亲自 can be replaced with 自己.
Examples
我每天都会亲自做饭
I cook by myself every day
wǒ měitiān dōu huì qīnzì zuòfàn
亲自 is most often used in formal language when referring to a high-status person. For example: a boss, a president or a minister.
Examples
总统亲自出面处理这个问题
The president has personally taken up this question
zǒngtǒng qīnzì chūmiàn chǔlǐ zhè ge wèntí
在这个录音中普雷斯利亲自唱
Presley himself sings in this recording
zài zhège lùyīn zhōng pǔléisīlì qīnzì chàng
If a person has personally done something, it is especially valuable. For example, it may be a rare or unusual situation.
Pay attention
In the last two cases, 亲自 cannot be replaced with 自己.
Examples
他要亲自去感谢营救者
He wants to thank his rescuers in person
tā yào qīnzì qù gǎnxiè yíngjiù zhě
他亲自培训这些人
He trained these people himself
tā qīnzì péixùn zhèxiē rén
自己 can serve as an adjective "own" or a pronoun "oneself", whereas 亲自 cannot. 亲自 has only one meaning — personally, in person.
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