置之度外 (zhì zhī dù wài) — to disregard completely; to give no thought to

Definition

A literary idiom meaning to disregard or ignore something completely, especially personal cost or risk. Pattern: 把 X 置之度外 (leave X out of one's calculations).

idiom
to disregard completelyto give no thought to

Examples

  • ，置之度外。
    Wèi le wán chéng rèn wu, tā bǎ gè rén ān wēi zhì zhī dù wài.
    To complete the mission, he gave no thought to his own safety.
  • 置之度外。
    Zhēn zhèng de yì shù jiā yīng dāng bǎ míng lì zhì zhī dù wài.
    A true artist should disregard fame and fortune.
  • ，置之度外。
    Tā yí dàn tóu rù gōng zuò, jiù bǎ shí jiān zhì zhī dù wài le.
    Once he throws himself into work, he loses all track of time.

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
罒Written in full as网wǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí置zhì
Same sound today

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

Open 置 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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
卜卜bǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
月
月yuè外wài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Open 外 →

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