“employ oneself in”是一个正式的英语短语,核心含义是“从事于;忙于;致力于(某件事)”。
它强调将个人的时间、精力或注意力投入到某项活动中,相当于“spend one's time/energy on sth.”或“be occupied with sth.”的更正式表达。
短语结构为:employ oneself in (doing) sth.
oneself:反身代词,需与主语保持人称一致(如myself/yourself/himself/herself/themselves等);
in:介词,后面接名词或动名词(doing)(因为介词后需跟名词性成分)。
1、 She employs herself in teaching English at a local school.
(她在当地一所学校从事英语教学工作。)
2、 Last year, he employed himself in writing his first novel.
(去年,他忙于写自己的第一部小说。)
3、 I often employ myself in reading classic literature in my free time.
(我空闲时经常致力于阅读经典文学。)
4、 They employ themselves in volunteer work every weekend.
(他们每个周末都忙于志愿者工作。)
该短语主语必须是人(因为“oneself”指代主语自身);
语气较正式,常见于书面语或正式语境,口语中更常用“be busy with”“be engaged in”等表达;
同义替换:可与“devote oneself to”(致力于)、“be occupied with”(忙于)、“engage oneself in”(从事)互换,但“employ oneself in”更强调“主动投入时间/精力”。
简单来说,“employ oneself in”就是“把自己‘用’在某事上”——即全身心投入做某件事。