“help oneself”是英语中常用的口语短语,核心含义是“自取、自用、随便吃/拿”,具体用法和含义需结合语境理解。以下是详细解析:
短语的完整结构通常是 help oneself to sth.(“随便取用某物”),其中反身代词(oneself)需根据主语调整(如yourself/ yourselves, himself/ herself, themselves等),用于邀请或允许他人自主取用物品(多为食物、饮料或日常用品),是一种礼貌或随意的表达。
1、 反身代词的变化
反身代词需与主语(或说话对象)一致:
对单数“你”:help yourself to sth.
对复数“你们”:help yourselves to sth.
对他人(第三人称):help himself/herself/themselves to sth.
2、 常见场景与例句
多用于社交场合(如吃饭、聚会),邀请对方“不必客气,自己动手”:
Help yourself to some fruit.(随便吃点水果。)
If you want more coffee, just help yourself.(想再喝点咖啡的话,自己倒就行。)
At the buffet, guests helped themselves to all kinds of dishes.(在自助餐厅,客人们自己取各种菜。)
有时“help oneself to sth.”也可表示未经允许擅自拿走、偷拿某物(隐含“不客气”的负面意味):
Someone helped themselves to my phone while I was away.(我不在的时候,有人偷拿了我的手机。)
He helped himself to the cookies without asking.(他没问就拿走了饼干。)
核心结构:help + 反身代词 + to + 名词
基本义:友好邀请/允许他人自取(中性/褒义)
引申义:擅自取用、偷拿(贬义,需结合语境判断)
这个短语非常口语化,是日常交流中“招呼客人”或“表达自主”的常用表达~