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随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù) — (idiom) to follow one's heart's desires; to do as one pleases (often implying self-indulgence or disregard for others)

Definition

Idiom for doing whatever one wants, usually with a negative tone of self-indulgence. Unlike 随便, it has no 'casual/informal' sense, and unlike 称心如意 it describes the act, not the result being satisfactory.

idiom
to follow one's heart's desiresto do as one pleases (often implying self-indulgence or disregard for others)

Examples

  • 随心所欲，。
    Tā zǒng shì suí xīn suǒ yù, bù guǎn bié rén zěn me xiǎng.
    He always does as he pleases, regardless of what others think.
  • 随心所欲，。
    Jié le hūn jiù bù néng zài suí xīn suǒ yù le, yào duō wèi jiā tíng kǎo lǜ.
    After getting married, you can no longer do whatever you want—you have to think more about the family.
  • ，随心所欲。
    Fàng jià de shí hou, wǒ xǐ huan suí xīn suǒ yù dì kàn shū.
    On holidays, I like to read as I please, following my heart.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 隨; 随 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalking
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡐦
𡐦𡐦隨suí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隨 pairs 辵 (walking) with 𡐦 (the sound part); the simplified 随 is a later shorthand.

Open 随 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →

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
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

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
欠欠qiàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ欲yù
Same sound today

欲 is made of 谷, which supplies the sound, and 欠, which relates to the meaning.

Open 欲 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set PhrasesWill & Intention

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