Chinese word

放肆

Pronunciation

Pinyinfàng sì

Meaning

  • adjectivepresumptuous

Example

别在老师面前放肆。bié zài lǎo shī miàn qián fàng sì

Don't be presumptuous in front of the teacher.

Illustration for 放肆 (presumptuous)

More examples

他的放肆举止让大家感到不舒服。tā de fàng sì jú zhǐ ràng dà jiā gǎn dào bù shū fú

His presumptuous behavior makes everyone uncomfortable.

Core concept

A person lets the usual brake on manners go and pushes past other people's social boundaries.

Common phrases

  • 放肆的态度fàng sì de tài dù

    a presumptuous attitude

  • 放肆的举止fàng sì de jú zhǐ

    presumptuous behavior

  • 对人放肆duì rén fàng sì

    be presumptuous toward others

Similar words

无礼wú lǐ: Showing bad manners and failing to treat others with proper respect.
粗鲁cū lǔ: Blunt and rough in manner, without the care or gentleness expected in polite behavior.
嚣张xiāo zhāng: Aggressively arrogant, using a forceful manner that treats others as inferior.
厚颜无耻hòu yán wú chǐ: Having no sense of shame and acting brazenly despite clearly improper behavior.

Definition in Chinese

行为不受约束，毫无顾忌地做出冒犯或不合礼数的举动，表现出厚颜或无礼。xíng wéi bú shòu yuē shù háo wú gù jì dì zuò chū mào fàn huò bù hé lǐ shù de jǔ dòng biǎo xiàn chū hòu yán huò wú lǐ

Word origin

The compound joins 放 (fàng, "release") with 肆 (sì, "act without restraint"), creating the image of conduct given free rein.

Usage tips

  • The word is especially useful in rebukes, where it marks conduct that goes beyond what the setting or relationship allows.

Other meanings

  • unrestrainedadjective
  • cheekyadjective
  • rudeadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 放肆地fàng sì dìpresumptuouslyadverb

Word lists with this word