# 意气用事

yì qì yòng shì

Let immediate emotions drive a decision

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Act according to one's emotional impulse

**Traditional Chinese:** 意氣用事

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Warn against choosing before considering the facts.

Emotion matters, but should not replace relevant information.

## The image & its use

The expression describes a decision directed mainly by a passing feeling or wish to assert oneself. It may concern changing a plan out of annoyance or agreeing to something purely from excitement. The concern is the missing consideration of consequences, not the existence of emotion itself. A pause, a clear question, or another person's perspective can help. Explain the practical issue so the warning offers a way forward instead of merely labeling someone's reaction.

## Examples

先看看资料，别意气用事。

### Traditional Chinese

先看看資料，別意氣用事。

xiān kàn kàn zī liào ， bié yì qì yòng shì 。

Look at the information first rather than deciding impulsively.

他一时意气用事，改了原来的安排。

### Traditional Chinese

他一時意氣用事，改了原來的安排。

tā yì shí yì qì yòng shì ， gǎi le yuán lái de ān pái 。

He changed the original arrangement on an emotional impulse.

她冷静下来，决定不再意气用事。

### Traditional Chinese

她冷靜下來，決定不再意氣用事。

tā lěng jìng xià lái ， jué dìng bú zài yì qì yòng shì 。

After settling down, she decided to choose more thoughtfully.

重要决定需要讨论，不能意气用事。

### Traditional Chinese

重要決定需要討論，不能意氣用事。

zhòng yào jué dìng xū yào tǎo lùn ， bù néng yì qì yòng shì 。

Important decisions need discussion rather than impulse alone.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1138&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%84%8F%E6%B0%A3%E7%94%A8%E4%BA%8B)

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