各自为政

各自為政

gèzì-wéizhèng

idiom #63,784

Meanings

1 each doing things in his own way
2 to act independently without coordination; fragmented administration

Characters

governance; affairs

Examples

HSK 4

部门之间各自为政，效率很低。

Bùmén zhījiān gèzì-wéizhèng, xiàolǜ hěn dī.

The departments each act on their own and efficiency is low.

HSK 6

团队成员各自为政，难以合作。

Tuánduì chéngyuán gèzì-wéizhèng, nányǐ hézuò.

The team members each go their own way - cooperation is hard.

HSK 7-9

地方各自为政不利于统一管理。

Dìfāng gèzì-wéizhèng búlìyú tǒngyī guǎnlǐ.

Localities acting each on their own is bad for unified management.

Tips

history

Recorded in 左传 (Zuo Commentary): a chariot driver given a stingy share of mutton drives his commander into enemy lines, saying 'yesterday the mutton was your call (子为政), today the chariot is mine (我为政)' - a pointed origin story about the cost of uncoordinated action.

Stroke Order

各 gè

自 zì

为 wéi

政 zhèng