恣

zì

心 + 次

Definitions

zì to abandon restraint; to do as one pleases; comfortable (dialect)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 次 represents the sound.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 次

About

恣 means to be unrestrained, willful, or indulgent. It is a phono-semantic compound with 心 (xīn, heart/mind) as the semantic radical at the bottom, indicating a connection to psychological states or desires. The top part, 次 (cì), serves as the phonetic component. The character fundamentally describes an internal attitude where one's desires dictate behavior without external constraint. It commonly appears in compounds depicting arrogant or reckless actions, linking the heart radical's emotional meaning to outward conduct.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

孩子们在草地上恣意奔跑。

Háizimen zài cǎodì shàng zìyì bēnpǎo.

The children run freely on the grass.

他恣意挥霍自己的钱财。

Tā zìyì huīhuò zìjǐ de qiáncái.

He squanders his money wantonly.

她恣情地歌唱，忘记了一切。

Tā zìqíng de gēchàng, wàngjìle yīqiè.

She sang indulently, forgetting everything.

在假期里，我们可以恣意放松。

Zài jiàqī lǐ, wǒmen kěyǐ zìyì fàngsōng.

During the holiday, we can relax without restraint.

管理者不能恣意做出决定。

Guǎnlǐ zhě bùnéng zìyì zuòchū juédìng.

Managers cannot make decisions arbitrarily.

他的恣肆行为引起了大家的不满。

Tā de zìsì xíngwéi yǐnqǐle dàjiā de bùmǎn.

His unrestrained behavior caused everyone's dissatisfaction.

尽管环境艰苦，他仍恣意追求梦想。

Jǐnguǎn huánjìng jiānkǔ, tā réng zìyì zhuīqiú mèngxiǎng.

Despite the harsh environment, he still pursues his dreams willfully.

在艺术创作中，恣意的表达往往能激发灵感。

Zài yìshù chuàngzuò zhōng, zìyì de biǎodá wǎngwǎng néng jīfā línggǎn.

In artistic creation, unrestrained expression often inspires creativity.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 心

Component: 次

恣