放浪形骸 (fàng làng xíng hái) — to be uninhibited and unconventional; to live freely without regard for social norms

Definition

Literary idiom meaning to cast off social conventions and live freely — often used for artists, poets, or recluses who reject propriety. Stronger and more literary than everyday 'unconventional'.

idiom
to be uninhibited and unconventionalto live freely without regard for social norms

Examples

  • 放浪形骸，。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā yì shēng fàng làng xíng hái, chuàng zuò le xǔ duō dú tè de zuò pǐn.
    This painter lived an uninhibited life and created many unique works.
  • 放浪形骸，。
    Tā xǐ huan fàng làng xíng hái de shēng huó, bú yuàn yì bèi guī ju shù fù.
    He enjoys an unconventional life and doesn't want to be bound by rules.
  • 放浪形骸。
    Gǔ dài wén rén cháng yǐ fàng làng xíng hái lái biǎo dá duì zì yóu de xiàng wǎng.
    Ancient literati often used uninhibited behavior to express their longing for freedom.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng浪làng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

Open 浪 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài骸hái
Same sound today

骸 pairs 骨, which shows the meaning is about bones, with 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 骸 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.