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放纵 (fàng zòng) — (verb) to indulge, to pamper, to let (oneself or others) go unrestrained; (adjective) unrestrained, indulgent, undisciplined

Definition

放纵 emphasizes giving free rein to desires or behavior, often with a negative judgment (unrestrained, self-indulgent). Unlike 宽容 (tolerant forgiveness), it carries moral criticism rather than acceptance.

verb
to indulgeto pamperto let (oneself or others) go unrestrained
adjective
unrestrainedindulgentundisciplined

Examples

  • 放纵，。
    Tā zuì jìn tài fàng zòng zì jǐ le, měi tiān áo yè dǎ yóu xì.
    He has been indulging himself too much lately, staying up late every day to play games.
  • 放纵。
    Zhè zhǒng fàng zòng de shēng huó fāng shì duì shēn tǐ fēi cháng yǒu hài.
    This kind of unrestrained lifestyle is very harmful to your health.
  • 放纵，。
    Fù mǔ bú yīng gāi guò fèn fàng zòng hái zi, yào jiào tā men shǒu guī ju.
    Parents should not indulge their children excessively; they should teach them to follow rules.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

放fàngrelease
纵zòngindulge

放 and 纵 both convey letting loose, so the word means indulging or being unrestrained.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 縱; 纵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
從
從cóng縱zòng
Same sound today

The traditional form 縱 pairs the 糸 part with 從 as a sound part; the simplified 纵 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 纵 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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