Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'me' when someone else is doing the action to you; use 'myself' only when you are doing the action to yourself.
- Use 'me' as the object of a verb or preposition: 'He called me.'
- Use 'myself' only if 'I' is the subject: 'I hurt myself.'
- Avoid 'myself' just to sound formal; it's usually grammatically incorrect in 'Please contact myself.'
Overview
me と myself の使い分けは、中級レベル（B1）から上級へとステップアップしようとする学習者にとって、避けては通れない重要なポイントです。多くの日本人の学習者は、myself を me の「より丁寧な表現」や「強調された表現」だと誤解してしまいがちですが、実際にはこの2つの単語は文法的に全く異なる役割を担っています。me は目的格代名詞であり、動作の「受け手（ターゲット）」としての役割を果たします。一方で myself は再帰代名詞、あるいは強調代名詞としての役割を持ちます。これらは交換可能なものではなく、不適切な場面で myself を使うと、不自然に聞こえるだけでなく、文法的な誤りとしてプロフェッショナルな印象を損なう可能性があります。本ガイドでは、日本人が陥りやすい「過剰修正（丁寧に見せようとして間違えること）」の罠を回避し、自信を持ってこれらの言葉を使い分けるためのルールを詳しく解説します。I told myself のように主語と目的語の関係を定義する必要があります。me の役割：目的格代名詞me は、動作の主語が「自分以外」の時に、自分がその動作の対象になる場合に使われます。日本語の「私を」「私に」に相当します。- 直接目的語: 動詞の動作を直接受ける場合。
The manager called me.（マネージャーが私を呼んだ。）- ここで主語は
The managerであり、私（me）ではありません。 - 間接目的語: 動作の結果、何かを受け取る場合。
She gave me the documents.（彼女は私に書類を渡した。）- 書類を受け取るのは私ですが、渡す動作の主体は
Sheです。 - 前置詞の目的語:
to,for,with,betweenなどの後ろに来る場合。 Please send the email to me.（私にメールを送ってください。）
myself の役割：再帰代名詞 (Reflexive Pronoun)myself の最も重要な役割は、「主語と目的語が同一人物であること」を示すことです。動作が自分自身に「跳ね返ってくる（再帰する）」イメージです。日本語の「自分自身を（に）」に近いニュアンスです。- ルール: 文の主語が
Iである時のみ、目的語としてmyselfを使います。 I cut myself while cooking.（料理中に（自分を）切ってしまった。）I introduced myself to the team.（チームに自己紹介した＝自分を自分に紹介した。）
myself の役割：強調代名詞 (Intensive Pronoun)myself を取り除いても文の基本的な意味は成立します。I will do it myself.（私自身で（自力で）やります。）I myself saw the incident.（私自身がその事件を目撃しました。）
I ではない | me | He helped me. |I ではない | me | Wait for me. |I である | myself | I helped myself to the snacks. |myself | I myself will check it. |my boss and me のように、自分ともう一人が並ぶ「複合目的語」のケースです。この時、myself を使いたくなる誘惑に駆られますが、以下のテストで確認できます。- テスト: 「もう一人の人物」を文から消してみる。
- 例:
Please contact my manager or myself. - 検証: 「もう一人」を消すと
Please contact myself.となります。これは不自然ですよね？正しくはPlease contact me.なので、元の文もPlease contact my manager or me.が正解となります。
me)you）です。したがって、myself を使うのは誤りです。Correct:Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Incorrect:Please feel free to contact myself...
- 解説: 日本語の「私の方へ」というニュアンスを
myselfで表現しようとしてしまうことがありますが、英語ではシンプルにmeを使います。
myself)myself が非常に有効です。Scenario:就職活動の面接（就活）Example:I taught myself how to use Adobe Illustrator during the pandemic.
- 解説: 「自分自身に教えた」＝「独学した」という意味になります。自律性と努力（努力家な姿勢）をアピールするのに最適な表現です。
myself - 強調)Scenario:会社での進捗報告Example:I will handle the client meeting myself.
- 解説: 文末に
myselfを置くことで、「私が自ら対応します」というプロフェッショナルな責任感を示すことができます。
me)Scenario:プロジェクトの資料送付依頼Example:Could you please send the report to both Ken and me?
- 解説: 前述のテストを思い出してください。
to meが正解なので、Kenが加わってもmeのままです。
myself を使ってしまう誤り- 間違い:
The new policy affects my colleagues and myself. - なぜ起きるか: 日本語では「私」よりも「自分」と言う方が少し謙虚、あるいは客観的に聞こえる場合があります。また、英語でも単語が長い方がフォーマルに聞こえるという錯覚（Hypercorrection）があるため、
meを避けてmyselfを選んでしまいます。 - 正解:
The new policy affects my colleagues and me. - アドバイス:
myselfは「丁寧なme」ではありません。主語がIでない限り、使わないと心に決めましょう。
Between you and I または Between you and myself- 間違い:
This is just between you and myself. - なぜ起きるか:
betweenは前置詞です。前置詞の後ろには必ず「目的格（me）」が来なければなりません。日本語では「あなたと私の間」と一括りにしますが、英語ではbetweenという言葉が後ろの代名詞の形を支配します。 - 正解:
This is just between you and me. - アドバイス: 慣用句として
between you and meを丸暗記してしまいましょう。
- 間違い:
Myself will attend the meeting. - なぜ起きるか: 日本語では「自分、会議に出ます」のように、主語の位置に「自分」を置くことがあります。これを直訳して
myselfを主語にしてしまうミスです。 - 正解:
I will attend the meeting myself.（強調）または単にI will attend the meeting. - アドバイス: 英語において
myselfが主語になることは絶対にありません。主語は常にIです。
I, me, myself の違いを整理しましょう。I の時の目的語 |- 1
I saw him.(私が彼を見た) - 2
He saw me.(彼が私を見た) - 3
I saw myself in the mirror.(鏡の中に自分自身を見た) - 4
I saw him myself.(私自身が（この目で）彼を見た)
Regards, Myself と書くのはアリですか？I や me ではなく名前を書くのが鉄則です。myself はあくまで文の中で機能する言葉です。by myself と myself だけの違いは何ですか？by myself は「一人きりで（alone）」という状況を指すことが多いです。例えば I went to the cinema by myself.（一人で映画に行った）。一方で、単独の myself（強調）は「（助けを借りずに）自力で」というニュアンスが強くなります。I fixed the car myself.（業者に頼まず自分で直した）。How are you? と聞かれて Myself is good と答えてもいいですか？I am doing well. や I'm good. と答えます。myself は主語（S）の位置には決して座れない、と覚えておきましょう。Please contact myself と言われたのですが、ネイティブも間違えますか？myself を誤用するネイティブは多いです。しかし、それは文法的には間違いとされており、教育を受けたプロフェッショナルとしては me を正しく使う方が、より知的な印象を与えます。Pronoun Case Comparison
| Subject | Object | Reflexive | Intensive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
me
|
myself
|
myself
|
|
You
|
you
|
yourself
|
yourself
|
|
He
|
him
|
himself
|
himself
|
|
She
|
her
|
herself
|
herself
|
|
It
|
it
|
itself
|
itself
|
|
We
|
us
|
ourselves
|
ourselves
|
|
They
|
them
|
themselves
|
themselves
|
Meanings
The distinction between using the object pronoun 'me' and the reflexive pronoun 'myself' depends entirely on whether the subject of the sentence is the same person as the object.
Object Pronoun
Used when the person speaking is the receiver of an action performed by someone else.
“Can you help me with this task?”
“She invited me to the meeting.”
Reflexive Pronoun
Used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same person (I).
“I taught myself how to code.”
“I sometimes talk to myself.”
Intensive Pronoun
Used to add emphasis to the fact that 'I' personally did something.
“I will handle the situation myself.”
“I myself saw the error in the code.”
Reference Table
| 代名詞の種類 | 役割 | 正しい例 | よくある間違い |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Me
|
目的語（〜に、〜を）
|
She will call `me` later.
|
N/A (これが基本です)
|
|
Me
|
前置詞の目的語
|
Please send the file to `me`.
|
Please send the file to `myself`.
|
|
Me
|
複合目的語（誰かと私）
|
Talk to Sarah and `me`.
|
Talk to Sarah and `myself`.
|
|
Myself
|
再帰代名詞（自分自身）
|
I taught `myself` to code.
|
My teacher taught `myself` to code.
|
|
Myself
|
強調（自分自身で）
|
I'll do it `myself`.
|
My boss and `myself` will do it.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Please do not hesitate to contact me. (Communication)
Please call me if you need anything. (Communication)
Give me a call later. (Communication)
Hit me up. (Communication)
Me vs. Myself: 代名詞の役割
アクションを受け取る
- Me Object Pronoun
アクションが自分に戻る
- Myself Reflexive Pronoun
強調を加える
- Myself Intensive Pronoun
Me と Myself の使い分け
Me か Myself か？クイックガイド
主語と目的語は同じ人ですか？
主語を強調したいですか？ (例: 私自身が...)
正しい使用シーン
... me と言うとき
- • Contact me
- • Talk to me
- • Between you and me
- • Assigned to... me
... myself と言うとき
- • I did it myself
- • I told myself
- • By myself (一人で)
- • I, myself, think...
レベル別の例文
Look at me!
¡Mírame!
Give it to me.
Dámelo.
I see myself.
Me veo a mí mismo.
He loves me.
Él me ama.
Can you call me later?
¿Puedes llamarme más tarde?
I cooked dinner myself.
Yo mismo cociné la cena.
She sent me an email.
Ella me envió un correo electrónico.
I hurt myself playing football.
Me lastimé jugando al fútbol.
Please contact me if you have questions.
Por favor, contácteme si tiene preguntas.
I will introduce myself to the team.
Me presentaré al equipo.
They invited my wife and me to the party.
Nos invitaron a mi esposa y a mí a la fiesta.
I found the solution myself.
Encontré la solución yo mismo.
The CEO spoke directly to me.
El CEO me habló directamente.
I'm not quite myself today.
No soy yo mismo hoy.
He told me to keep the secret to myself.
Me dijo que me guardara el secreto.
The decision was made by the board and me.
La decisión fue tomada por la junta y por mí.
I myself am responsible for the oversight.
Yo mismo soy responsable del descuido.
It was a matter between the director and me.
Era un asunto entre el director y yo.
I've always prided myself on my punctuality.
Siempre me he enorgullecido de mi puntualidad.
The news came as a shock to me.
La noticia me sorprendió.
I found myself wandering through the old streets.
Me encontré deambulando por las calles antiguas.
To me, the argument seems fundamentally flawed.
Para mí, el argumento parece fundamentalmente erróneo.
I shall conduct the inquiry myself.
Yo mismo llevaré a cabo la investigación.
The distinction was lost on everyone but me.
La distinción pasó desapercibida para todos excepto para mí.
間違えやすい
Learners often use 'I' as an object (e.g., 'He gave it to I').
Both mean 'alone', but 'by myself' uses the reflexive pronoun.
Reflexive pronouns are for one person acting on themselves; 'each other' is for two people acting on each other.
よくある間違い
Give it to myself.
Give it to me.
Me see the mirror.
I see the mirror.
I see me in the mirror.
I see myself in the mirror.
He likes myself.
He likes me.
Please call myself.
Please call me.
I made it for me.
I made it for myself.
Myself am a student.
I am a student.
Contact John or myself.
Contact John or me.
The manager spoke to myself.
The manager spoke to me.
Between you and myself...
Between you and me...
As for myself, I disagree.
As for me, I disagree.
The invitation was sent to my colleagues and myself.
The invitation was sent to my colleagues and me.
文型パターン
Please contact ___ if you have any questions.
I ___ ___ the whole thing.
Between you and ___, I think the plan is flawed.
I found ___ ___ in a difficult position.
Real World Usage
Please reach out to me if you need more info.
I taught myself Python in six months.
Just me, myself, and I.
The agent told me to restart my router.
Can you bring the check to me?
He showed me the way to the station.
「人を一人消す」テクニック
Send it to Maria and myselfという文で迷ったら、Mariaを消してみて。
Send it to meなら自然ですよね？
「カッコつけすぎ」に注意
myself を使ってもプロっぽくはなりません。むしろ自信がないように聞こえるので Simple is best です！強調のパワーを使おう
myself がぴったり。I, myself, guarantee the results.と言うと力強いです。
教育レベルの指標
Smart Tips
Always put yourself last and use 'me'.
Put 'myself' at the very end of the sentence.
Never use 'I' or 'myself' after 'between'.
Use 'me' anyway; it is never wrong as an object.
発音
Stress on 'self'
In 'myself', the stress is usually on the second syllable.
Weak 'me'
The word 'me' is often unstressed in a sentence unless you are contrasting it with someone else.
Intensive Emphasis
I did it mySELF! ↗️
Conveys pride or insistence that no one else helped.
暗記しよう
記憶術
If there's no 'I', 'myself' is a lie.
視覚的連想
Imagine 'myself' as a mirror. You can only see a reflection if you (the subject 'I') are standing right in front of it. If someone else is in the room, they see 'me', not the reflection.
Rhyme
When 'I' is the doer, 'myself' is the view. But if 'you' are the doer, then 'me' is for you!
Story
I went to a store to buy a gift. I bought a gift for me? No, I bought a gift for myself because I was the one shopping. Then, the clerk gave the receipt to me. He was the doer, so he used 'me'.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Go through your 'Sent' email folder. Search for the word 'myself'. Check if every time you used it, the subject of the sentence was 'I'. If not, you found a mistake to learn from!
文化メモ
There is a widespread 'myth' in offices that 'myself' is more polite than 'me'. You will see many native speakers get this wrong. Using it correctly shows high-level attention to detail.
In some Irish dialects, 'himself' or 'myself' is used as a subject pronoun for emphasis or to refer to the head of a household.
Sometimes 'myself' is used in place of 'me' in very informal compound subjects, though it is still considered non-standard.
The word 'myself' comes from Old English 'me self', where 'self' was an adjective meaning 'same'.
会話のきっかけ
Did you teach yourself any new skills during the lockdown?
If you have a problem at work, do you prefer people to come to you directly or tell your manager?
Have you ever had to handle a difficult situation all by yourself?
Who is the most interesting person you've introduced yourself to?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
The CEO wants to speak with ___ about the quarterly report.
Find and fix the mistake:
Please forward the email chain to John and myself.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesIf you have any further questions, please contact ___.
I decided to treat ___ to a nice dinner after the promotion.
Find and fix the mistake:
The manager gave the keys to David and myself.
I painted the room without any help.
'Myself and my team will handle the project.'
A: Who made this mess? B: Sorry, I did it ___.
1. I hurt myself. 2. Please tell myself. 3. I'll do it myself.
A. Look at ___. B. I look at ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI was so tired, I could barely recognize ___ in the mirror.
Between you and ___, I think this project is going to be a huge success.
My manager and myself will be leading the presentation.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'その小包は私宛て（私のためのもの）です。'
単語を並べ替えて正しい文を作ってください：
代名詞とその役割を一致させてください：
This is a photo of ___ on vacation last year.
The investors want a meeting with the founder and I.
Choose the correct sentence:
I'm going to the store by ___ to get some snacks.
単語を並べ替えて正しい文を作ってください：
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
No, in standard English grammar, it is always incorrect because the subject of the request is 'you', not 'I'. Use `me` instead.
It's a form of hypercorrection. People think longer words sound more formal or polite, especially in business settings.
Generally, no. `Myself` is not a subject pronoun. Use `I` or `My [noun] and I`.
It's when you use `myself` just for emphasis, like 'I'll do it myself.' The sentence works without it, but it adds 'flavor'.
`Between you and me` is correct. Prepositions like 'between' always take the object pronoun `me`.
Yes, a reflexive pronoun needs an antecedent (the person it refers back to) as the subject of that specific clause.
Yes, `by myself` is a common way to say you did something without help or without other people present.
Even in the most formal letters, `me` is the correct grammatical choice for an object. Accuracy is more professional than 'sounding' formal.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
me / mí mismo
Spanish uses the same word 'me' for both reflexive and object in many cases, whereas English distinguishes 'me' and 'myself'.
me / moi-même
French reflexive verbs are a mandatory grammatical category, while English uses reflexive pronouns more sparingly.
mich / mir / selbst
German doesn't have a unique word like 'myself' for the first person; it just uses the object pronoun + 'selbst'.
jibun (自分)
Japanese relies on context rather than specific pronoun cases like 'me' vs 'myself'.
nafsi (نفسي)
The reflexive in Arabic is formed by adding a noun ('self'), whereas in English it is a dedicated pronoun.
zìjǐ (自己)
Chinese has no case distinction (I vs Me), making the English 'me' vs 'myself' distinction doubly difficult.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
関連動画
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