If something self-destructs, it destroys itself, usually by blowing up. The classic picture is a bomb, a missile, or a spy gadget with a self-destruct button: nobody else has to smash it; it is built to finish itself. Films love this word.

If something self-destructs如果某個東西 self-destructs（自毀） it destroys itself它會摧毀自己 usually by blowing up通常是用爆炸的方式 The classic picture is a bomb, a missile, or a spy gadget with a self-destruct button經典的畫面是炸彈、飛彈、或有自毀按鈕的間諜裝置：nobody else has to smash it不需要別人來把它砸壞；it is built to finish itself它天生就是設計來自己了結自己的 Films love this word電影很愛用這個詞

Though actually people stretch it a long way. A computer file, a secret message, a company plan, or even a public campaign can “self-destruct” when it falls apart from the inside, with no enemy needed. That use is looser and a bit dramatic — nothing always explodes.

Though actually不過其實 people stretch it a long way人們把這個詞用得寬鬆很多 A computer file, a secret message, a company plan, or even a public campaign電腦檔案、秘密訊息、公司計畫、甚至公開的活動 can 'self-destruct' when it falls apart from the inside都可以在從內部瓦解的時候說「self-destruct（自毀）」 with no enemy needed完全不需要敵人 That use is looser and a bit dramatic這種用法比較鬆散，也有點戲劇化 — nothing always explodes不是真的什麼東西都會爆炸

You will also meet it as a noun: the self-destruct, meaning the switch or the order that starts the process.

You will also meet it as a noun你也會遇到名詞用法：the self-destruct也就是 the self-destruct（自毀裝置） meaning the switch or the order that starts the process指啟動這個過程的開關或指令

For machines and stories, this is the everyday verb. For a person slowly ruining their own life, English more often reaches for self-destructive, not this one.

For machines and stories對機器和故事來說 this is the everyday verb這就是日常會用的動詞 For a person slowly ruining their own life對一個慢慢毀掉自己人生的人來說 English more often reaches for self-destructive, not this one英文比較常用 self-destructive（自我毀滅的）這個詞，而不是這個詞