自省 refers to the deliberate act of examining one's own thoughts, emotions, and behavior, often with a moral or ethical focus. It carries a Confucian undertone of personal cultivation — the classic phrase 吾日三省吾身 ('I daily examine myself on three points') is its cultural anchor. As a verb, you use it in formal or written contexts (e.g., 学会自省, 不断自省); as a noun, it pairs with verbs like 进行 or 做到. It is distinct from the more colloquial 反省, which implies regret or correction after a mistake.