# 胡作非为

hú zuò fēi wéi

Act outrageously and disregard rules

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Act recklessly and do wrongful things

**Traditional Chinese:** 胡作非為

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Condemn repeated harmful or unlawful conduct.

Much stronger than unconventional behavior.

## Understanding the expression

The expression combines arbitrary action with wrongdoing, portraying someone who ignores limits and consequences. It can describe scribbling in shared books, disregard of others' belongings, or repeated misconduct. Its tone is strongly condemnatory. Mere eccentricity or harmless rule bending does not carry the same weight. A concrete example should identify who is harmed or what serious responsibility is violated, making the criticism about conduct rather than a dislike of someone who behaves differently.

## Examples

他们在阅览室胡作非为，随意在书上涂画。

### Traditional Chinese

他們在閱覽室胡作非為，隨意在書上塗畫。

tā men zài yuè lǎn shì hú zuò fēi wéi ， suí yì zài shū shàng tú huà 。

They disregarded the reading room rules and scribbled in the books.

权力不能成为胡作非为的借口。

### Traditional Chinese

權力不能成為胡作非為的藉口。

quán lì bù néng chéng wéi hú zuò fēi wéi de jiè kǒu 。

Power cannot excuse harmful misconduct.

他胡作非为，把别人的材料随便拿走。

### Traditional Chinese

他胡作非為，把別人的材料隨便拿走。

tā hú zuò fēi wéi ， bǎ bié rén de cái liào suí biàn ná zǒu 。

He disregarded the rules and took others' materials without permission.

社区制止了那伙人的胡作非为。

### Traditional Chinese

社區制止了那夥人的胡作非為。

shè qū zhì zhǐ le nà huǒ rén de hú zuò fēi wéi 。

The community stopped that group’s outrageous conduct.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%83%A1%E4%BD%9C%E9%9D%9E%E7%82%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1021&webMd=1&la=0)

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