英语短语 "keep to oneself" 是一个常用的动词短语,核心含义围绕 “自我封闭” 或 “保守秘密”,具体可分为两种主要用法:
强调主动选择远离社交、不与他人互动的状态,通常描述性格内向者的习惯,或因情绪(如悲伤、失落)暂时回避他人的行为。
结构:主语 + keep to oneself(不及物,无需接宾语)
例句:
Introverted people often keep to themselves in crowded places.(内向的人在拥挤的地方常常独处。)
After her dog passed away, she kept to herself for weeks.(她的狗去世后,她独处了好几个星期。)
He’s a quiet guy who keeps to himself most of the time.(他是个安静的人,大部分时间都不与人来往。)
强调不泄露信息,需接具体的“秘密/计划等”作为宾语,结构为 keep sth. to oneself(及物,sth. 是保密的内容)。
例句:
Can you keep this news to yourself until Friday?(你能把这个消息保密到周五吗?)
I told her my resignation plan, and she promised to keep it to herself.(我告诉她我要辞职的计划,她答应保守秘密。)
Don’t tell anyone about the surprise party—keep it to yourself!(别告诉任何人关于惊喜派对的事——一定要保密!)
英式英语变体:常用 "keep oneself to oneself",意思完全相同(更强调“自我封闭”的状态),例如:
She keeps herself to herself and never talks to the neighbors.(她不与人交往,从不和邻居说话。)
注意区分:
与 "keep away from sb./sth."(远离某人/某物)不同:前者是“独处/保密”,后者是“回避具体的人/物”(如 Keep away from the busy road. 远离繁忙的马路)。
"keep to oneself" 是一个多义短语,核心是“自我与外界的隔离”——要么是社交上的独处,要么是信息上的保密。使用时需根据上下文判断具体含义,且保守秘密时需接宾语。