独断独行

獨斷獨行

dúduàn-dúxíng

idiom

Meanings

1 to decide and act alone without consultation
2 to take arbitrary action
3 to be a law unto oneself

Characters

to decide; to judge

Examples

HSK 7-9

他在公司里独断独行，从不听取下属意见。

Tā zài gōngsī lǐ dúduàn-dúxíng, cóngbù tīngqǔ xiàshǔ yìjiàn.

He acts arbitrarily at the company, never listening to his subordinates' opinions.

HSK 7-9

团队领导切忌独断独行。

Tuánduì lǐngdǎo qièjì dúduàn-dúxíng.

Team leaders must absolutely avoid making decisions on their own.

Tips

history

Recorded in Yung Wing's 《西学东渐记》 ('My Life in China and America', late Qing): 予已预备随时辞职，以便足下独断独行 ('I am ready to resign at any time, so that you may decide and act alone'). Pejorative, describes leaders who ignore collective input.

Stroke Order

独 dú

断 duàn

行 xíng