This is the 1195th most frequent French word.
soi
Self; oneself.
Here, 'soi' emphasizes individuality and autonomy in thought, functioning in the construction 'par soi-même' which means 'by oneself' or 'on one's own'.
Chacun doit être capable de penser par soi-même.
Each person must be able to think for themselves.
The term 'soi' functions as a noun in the phrase 'la recherche de soi', referring to one's own self or identity in a philosophical context.
La recherche de soi peut être un chemin difficile.
The search for oneself can be a difficult path.
In this sentence, 'soi' is used as a reflexive pronoun referring to oneself in a general sense, applicable to any individual.