Usage note
亲自表示自己直接去做某件事，而不是让别人代替。
Qīnzì biǎoshì zìjǐ zhíjiē qù zuò mǒu jiàn shì, ér bùshì ràng biérén dàitì.
In person means doing something directly yourself, not letting others do it for you.
Context note
老师亲自教我们写字，让我们学得更认真。
Lǎoshī qīnzì jiāo wǒmen xiězì, ràng wǒmen xué dé gèng rènzhēn.
The teacher taught us to write in person, making us learn more seriously.
5 examples
妈妈亲自为我做饭。
mā ma qīn zì wèi wǒ zuò fàn。
Mom cooks for me in person.
爸爸亲自送我去学校。
bà ba qīn zì sòng wǒ qù xué xiào。
Dad takes me to school in person.
老师亲自检查作业。
lǎo shī qīn zì jiǎn chá zuò yè。
The teacher checks homework in person.
我亲自打扫房间。
wǒ qīn zì dǎ sǎo fáng jiān。
I clean the room in person.
爷爷亲自种花。
yé ye qīn zì zhǒng huā。
Grandpa plants flowers in person.
5 mini stories
小明的妈妈亲自给他做蛋糕。蛋糕很好吃。
xiǎo míng de mā ma qīn zì jǐ tā zuò dàn gāo。 dàn gāo hěn hǎo chī。
Xiao Ming's mom made him a cake in person. The cake was delicious.
小红亲自给朋友写信。朋友收到信很开心。
xiǎo hóng qīn zì jǐ péng yǒu xiě xìn。 péng yǒu shōu dào xìn hěn kāi xīn。
Xiao Hong wrote a letter to her friend in person. The friend was happy to receive it.
小华亲自整理书包。书包变得很整齐。
xiǎo huá qīn zì zhěng lǐ shū bāo。 shū bāo biàn de hěn zhěng qí。
Xiao Hua organized his backpack in person. The backpack became very tidy.
小丽亲自浇花。花儿开得更漂亮了。
xiǎo lì qīn zì jiāo huā。 huā ér kāi dé gèng piào liang le。
Xiao Li watered the flowers in person. The flowers bloomed more beautifully.
小刚亲自做手工。他做了一个纸飞机。
xiǎo gāng qīn zì zuò shǒu gōng。 tā zuò le yí gè zhǐ fēi jī。
Xiao Gang made a craft in person. He made a paper airplane.
Mini dialogue
亲自做礼物
A
妈妈亲自给我做了生日蛋糕。
Māma qīnzì gěi wǒ zuòle shēngrì dàngāo.
Mom personally made me a birthday cake.
B
她真爱你！亲自做的蛋糕最好吃。
Tā zhēn ài nǐ! Qīnzì zuò de dàngāo zuì hǎochī.
She really loves you! A personally made cake tastes the best.
亲自去接
A
爸爸说今天亲自来接我放学。
Bàba shuō jīntiān qīnzì lái jiē wǒ fàngxué.
Dad said he will personally pick me up from school today.
B
太好了！亲自来接比坐校车有趣。
Tài hǎo le! Qīnzì lái jiē bǐ zuò xiàochē yǒuqù.
Great! Being picked up in person is more fun than taking the school bus.
Related words and contrasts
related
自己
zì jǐ
oneself
亲自 emphasizes doing something in person, while 自己 simply means oneself.
similar
亲手
qīn shǒu
with one's own hands
亲手 means doing something with one's own hands, similar to 亲自 but more specific.
similar
亲身
qīn shēn
personally, firsthand
亲身 means experiencing something personally, similar to 亲自.