己(おのれ)

おのれ

pronoun

oneself; self

1. oneself; one's own self

Literary first-person pronoun referring to oneself, mainly preserved in proverbs, classical writing, and a small set of formal expressions about self-reflection.

己(おのれ)を知(し)る。

To know oneself.

己(おのれ)に打(う)ち勝(か)つことが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It is important to overcome oneself.

敵(てき)を知(し)り己(おのれ)を知(し)れば、百戦(ひゃくせん)危(あや)うからず。

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear a hundred battles.

Literary and old-fashioned word for 'self'. Modern Japanese uses 自分(じぶん) in nearly all everyday contexts; 己(おのれ) survives in proverbs, classical-style writing, and a few set phrases about self-mastery.

Common expressions

己(おのれ)を知(し)る: to know oneself
己(おのれ)に勝(か)つ / 打(う)ち勝(か)つ: to overcome oneself
己(おのれ)を律(りっ)する: to discipline oneself
己(おのれ)を捨(す)てる: to set aside the self

Similar words

自分(じぶん): oneself — the everyday word; use this in normal speech
我(われ): I; self — literary, formal speeches and writing
自我(じが): ego; the self — psychological/philosophical term

Related Words

Compare: 自分(じぶん) (oneself)

Compare: 我(われ) (I; self — literary, formal speeches…)

Compare: 自我(じが) (ego)

general

Added 2026.5.29 12:08 · Revised 2026.10.1 18:54

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