为所欲为

為所欲為

wéisuǒ-yùwéi

idiom #8,593

Meanings

1 to do as one pleases; to act however one wants
2 to do whatever one desires (often with negative connotation)

Characters

to desire; to want

Do + what + desire + do - literally 'do what one desires to do.' Classical grammar: 所欲为 = 'that which one desires to do.'

Examples

HSK 2

你以为你可以为所欲为吗？

Nǐ yǐwéi nǐ kěyǐ wéisuǒ-yùwéi ma?

Do you think you can do whatever you want?

HSK 6

他仗着权力为所欲为。

Tā zhàng zhe quánlì wéisuǒ-yùwéi.

He does whatever he wants, relying on his power.

HSK 7-9

没有人可以为所欲为而不受惩罚。

Méiyǒu rén kěyǐ wéisuǒ-yùwéi ér bù shòu chéngfá.

No one can do as they please without being punished.

Tips

usage

为所欲为 almost always carries a negative connotation - implying someone acts selfishly, arrogantly, or without regard for rules. It's rarely used positively, unlike the English 'do as you please.'

grammar

This is a classical Chinese construction. 所 + verb creates a noun phrase ('that which is verbed'), so 所欲为 = 'that which one desires to do.' The outer 为 means 'to do.'

Stroke Order

为 wéi

所 suǒ

欲 yù