恣 (zì): to act without restraint

Meanings

1 to act without restraint
2 to do as one pleases
3 unbridled

Characters

恣

zì

to act without restraint

Examples

HSK 7-9

他恣意妄为，毫不顾及规矩。

Tā zìyì wàngwéi, háobù gùjí guīju.

He let himself act recklessly, paying no heed to the rules.

HSK 7-9

画家在纸上恣意挥洒。

Huàjiā zài zhǐ shàng zìyì huīsǎ.

The artist let his brush run wild across the paper.

Tips

usage

恣 is written-style and usually appears in 恣意 (wantonly, willfully), often with a negative tone of unchecked behavior.

Components

radical

心 xīn

heart; mind

The heart radical 心 sits below, marking 恣 as a state of mind: letting one's impulses run free.

phonetic

次 cì

order; next

Sits on top and carries the sound, drifted from cì to the modern reading zì. The same phonetic drives 资 and 姿.

Stroke Order

恣 zì

Related Words

恣意 zìyì #31,438

unrestrained; without restraint / willfully; wantonly / recklessly

不假思索 bùjiǎ-sīsuǒ HSK 7-9 #35,239

without hesitation; without thinking / instinctively; without a moment's thought

代理 dàilǐ HSK 5 #4,442

to act on behalf of / agent; proxy / acting (in a role)

冲动 chōngdòng HSK 5 #3,135

impulsive / impulse / to act on impulse

扮演 bànyǎn HSK 5 #2,398

to play the role of; to act as / to play a part (figuratively)

本来 běnlái HSK 3 #716

originally; at first / as a matter of fact; it goes without saying

蠢事 chǔnshì #6,075

foolish act / stupid thing / blunder

表演 biǎoyǎn HSK 3 #500

to perform; to act / performance; show

动 dòng HSK 1 #409

to move / to act / to use

当然 dāngrán HSK 3 #163

of course; naturally / certainly; without doubt