肆意 (sì yì) — wantonly; recklessly; without restraint

Definition

A formal, written adverb meaning 'wantonly, recklessly' — much stronger and more literary than 随便. Typically used to criticize wrongdoing, not casual everyday actions.

adverb
wantonlyrecklesslywithout restraint
Easily confused

Examples

  • 肆意，。
    Tā sì yì dì pī píng bié rén, wán quán bù kǎo lǜ hòu guǒ.
    He criticized others wantonly, without considering the consequences at all.
  • 肆意，。
    Zhè xiē kāi fā shāng sì yì pò huài huán jìng, yīng gāi shòu dào chéng fá.
    These developers recklessly destroy the environment and should be punished.
  • 肆意。
    Nǐ bù néng sì yì làng fèi shuǐ zī yuán.
    You cannot waste water resources wantonly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

肆sìindulge
意yìwill

肆 gives indulging, and 意 gives the will, so 肆意 means wantonly.

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
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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →

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