每天成语
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随心所欲

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: suí xīn suǒ yù
  • English Translation: To follow one's heart's desires (as one pleases)
  • Idiom Composition: 「随」（To follow or comply with）＋「心」（Heart or mind）＋「所」（That which (a particle indicating the object of the verb)）＋「欲」（To desire or want）
  • Meaning: To act according to one's own wishes and desires without any restriction. Depending on the context, it can describe a state of total freedom and mastery, or a negative trait of being willful and self-indulgent.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「随心所欲」 contains the following nuances:

  • Neutral Connotation: The idiom itself is neutral. It becomes a compliment when describing an artist's effortless expression, but it serves as a criticism when describing someone who ignores social norms to satisfy their own whims.
  • The State of Absolute Freedom: It refers to a state where there is no gap between one's internal desires and external actions, implying a lack of external pressure or internal conflict.

3. Usage

「随心所欲」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Positive: Freedom and Relaxation: Used to describe a state of being relaxed and having the freedom to spend time or resources exactly how one wants.
    • Example:「到了假期，我终于可以丢开工作，随心所欲地安排时间了。」
      （Now that the holidays are here, I can finally set aside my work and arrange my time as I please.）
  • Negative: Self-indulgence: Used to criticize behavior that ignores rules or the feelings of others in favor of personal whims.
    • Example:「在公共场合不能随心所欲，要顾及他人的感受。」
      （One cannot act just as they please in public places; you must consider the feelings of others.）
  • Ability and Expression: Describes a high level of artistic or technical mastery where one can express themselves or use tools without effort.
    • Example:「这位画家的笔触随心所欲，展现出极高的艺术境界。」
      （The painter's brushstrokes were completely free and spontaneous, demonstrating an extremely high level of artistic mastery.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 在这个虚拟世界里，玩家可以随心所欲地建造自己的城市。
    （In this virtual world, players can build their own cities exactly as they wish.）
  2. 父母如果不加管教，任由孩子随心所欲，将来会害了他们。
    （If parents do not provide discipline and let their children do whatever they want, they will end up harming them in the long run.）
  3. 只有掌握了扎实的基础，运用起来才能随心所欲。
    （Only after mastering a solid foundation can you use your skills with total freedom.）
  4. 这种随心所欲的生活态度，虽然让人羡慕，但很难实现。
    （This kind of carefree lifestyle is enviable, but very difficult to achieve.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom originates from the Analects (论语) by Confucius (孔子), specifically the 'Wei Zheng' (为政) chapter. Confucius famously stated that by the age of seventy, he had reached a level where he could 'follow his heart's desires without overstepping the boundaries of what is right' (七十而从心所欲，不逾矩).
  • Evolution of Meaning: In its original Confucian context, it described the ultimate moral state where a person's natural impulses perfectly align with ethical laws. In modern Chinese, however, it is used more broadly to mean 'doing whatever one wants,' which often carries a negative nuance of being willful.
  • Comparison with 为所欲为 (wéi suǒ yù wéi): While 为所欲为 (wéi suǒ yù wéi) is almost exclusively negative and implies doing whatever one wants regardless of the harm caused, 随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù) is more versatile and can be used to describe positive creative freedom.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù) describes the act of following one's heart exactly as one wishes. In positive contexts, it refers to the effortless mastery of a skill or the enjoyment of total freedom. In negative contexts, it is used to criticize someone for acting selfishly or disregarding social rules and boundaries.

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每天成语 | 随心所欲