# 肆无忌惮

sì wú jì dàn

Act without restraint or scruples

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Be reckless without any fear of restraint

**Traditional Chinese:** 肆無忌憚

**Register:** Critical · general

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

## When to use it

Criticize brazen misconduct that ignores consequences.

Strongly negative; it is not free-spirited confidence.

## Understanding the expression

The expression describes conduct that seems to ignore every ordinary limit. Someone might repeatedly interrupt a discussion or take over a shared space without considering other people. Its force comes from that conspicuous lack of restraint and regard. It is a strong criticism rather than a description of cheerful freedom. A person can speak frankly while still being considerate. Name the actual conduct in the sentence so the judgment refers to an observable action rather than an assumption about character.

## Examples

他肆无忌惮地乱放材料，根本不顾整理规则。

### Traditional Chinese

他肆無忌憚地亂放材料，根本不顧整理規則。

tā sì wú jì dàn dì luàn fàng cái liào ， gēn běn bú gù zhěng lǐ guī zé 。

He scattered materials without restraint or regard for the organization rules.

她肆无忌惮地打断发言，让讨论难以继续。

### Traditional Chinese

她肆無忌憚地打斷髮言，讓討論難以繼續。

tā sì wú jì dàn dì dǎ duàn fā yán ， ràng tǎo lùn nán yǐ jì xù 。

Her unrestrained interruptions made the discussion difficult to continue.

老师不在时，有人肆无忌惮地在教室大声喧哗。

### Traditional Chinese

老師不在時，有人肆無忌憚地在教室大聲喧譁。

lǎo shī bú zài shí ， yǒu rén sì wú jì dàn dì zài jiào shì dà shēng xuān huá 。

When the teacher was absent, someone made an unrestrained racket in the classroom.

不能肆无忌惮地占用公共空间，要考虑别人。

### Traditional Chinese

不能肆無忌憚地佔用公共空間，要考慮別人。

bù néng sì wú jì dàn dì zhàn yòng gōng gòng kōng jiān ， yào kǎo lǜ bié rén 。

Do not occupy shared space without restraint; consider other people.

## 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%82%86%E7%84%A1%E5%BF%8C%E6%86%9A)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=406&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [堂堂正正 táng táng zhèng zhèng Act openly, uprightly, and with dignity ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tang-tang-zheng-zheng)

- [滔滔不绝 tāo tāo bù jué Speak in a continuous flowing stream ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tao-tao-bu-jue)

- [体贴入微 tǐ tiē rù wēi Show thoughtful care in every detail ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ti-tie-ru-wei)

- [恬不知耻 tián bù zhī chǐ Show no shame about wrongdoing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-bu-zhi-chi)

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