自行其是

zìxíng-qíshì

idiom #42,504

Meanings

HSK 5

公司规定不能自行其是，必须统一行动。

Gōngsī guīdìng bùnéng zìxíng-qíshì, bìxū tǒngyī xíngdòng.

Company rules forbid acting on one's own; actions must be coordinated.

HSK 7-9

团队合作最忌自行其是。

Tuánduì hézuò zuì jì zìxíng-qíshì.

The biggest no-no in teamwork is everyone going their own way.

HSK 7-9

他不听劝告，自行其是，结果吃了大亏。

Tā bù tīng quàngào, zìxíng-qíshì, jiéguǒ chī le dà kuī.

He didn't heed the advice and went his own way, and ended up paying a heavy price.

usage

Pejorative - frames the actor as uncooperative or undisciplined, not independent-minded in a good way. For positive 'self-reliance' use 自力更生 or 独立自主.

memory

自 (self) 行 (carry out) 其 (one's own) 是 (what one thinks is right). Picture a person marching off while the team stands waiting.

自 zì

行 xíng

其 qí

是 shì