"keep sth. to oneself"是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“不把某事告诉别人;对…保密;将…藏在心里”(即不让信息、感受或秘密被他人知晓)。
keep:保留、保持
sth.:具体的“事情/信息/秘密/感受等”(如secret, feelings, thoughts, news等)
to oneself:强调“只留给自己”(反身代词需与主语一致,如myself/yourself/himself等)
该短语是及物动词短语,需带宾语(sth.),且反身代词要与句子主语对应(人称和数一致)。常见结构:
通过具体例子理解更清晰:
保密秘密:Please keep this secret to yourself.(请把这个秘密藏在心里/别告诉别人。)
隐藏感受:She kept her sadness to herself and smiled in front of others.(她把悲伤藏在心里,在别人面前微笑。)
不分享想法:He always keeps his thoughts to himself—no one knows what he's thinking.(他总把想法藏着,没人知道他在想什么。)
保守信息:Can you keep this news to yourself until Friday?(你能把这个消息保密到周五吗?)
不要混淆"keep to oneself"(无sth.),它的意思是“独处;不与人交往”(强调性格或行为上的孤僻),例如:
He's a quiet person who keeps to himself most of the time.(他很安静,大部分时间都独来独往。)
总结:"keep sth. to oneself"聚焦“对某件具体的事保密/藏在心里”,而"keep to oneself"聚焦“与人保持距离、独处”。
希望以上解释帮你掌握这个短语! 😊