TongTong
Sign in

放肆 (fàng sì) — presumptuous, impudent, unbridled

Definition

Describes behavior or speech that is impudent and unrestrained, often in front of elders or superiors. Stronger than 冒昧 (a polite self-deprecating word) and more general than 猖狂, which is reserved for savage or violent acts.

adjective
presumptuousimpudentunbridled

Examples

  • 放肆。
    Zài zhǎng bèi miàn qián bú yào zhè yàng fàng sì.
    Don't be so presumptuous in front of your elders.
  • 放肆。
    Tā fàng sì de xíng wéi ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu bù gāo xìng.
    His impudent behavior made everyone unhappy.
  • 放肆？
    Nǐ zěn me gǎn zhè me fàng sì?
    How dare you be so presumptuous?

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fàngunrestrained
肆sìwanton

放 means unrestrained and 肆 means wanton: unrestrained and wanton.

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
镸镸cháng
Sound part声符shēngfú
隶
隶lì肆sì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

肆 pairs 镸 as a meaning part with 隶 as a sound part.

Open 肆 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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