1.
selfish, doing as one pleases, self-indulgent
Acting according to one's own desires without considering others. Always carries a negative nuance of selfishness or inconsiderate behavior.
好き勝手なことを言う。
To say whatever one pleases.
子どもに好き勝手にさせてはいけない。
You shouldn't let children do whatever they want.
みんなが好き勝手に行動したら、チームはまとまらない。
If everyone acts selfishly, the team won't come together.
USAGE:
Used as a な-adjective (好き勝手な + noun) or adverbially (好き勝手に + verb). Always negative — it implies the person is being inconsiderate or disregarding rules and others' feelings.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 好き勝手なことを言う: to say whatever one pleases
- 好き勝手に振る舞う: to behave selfishly
- 好き勝手にやる: to do as one likes
SIMILAR WORDS:
勝手 alone can mean "selfish" or "at one's convenience." 好き勝手 intensifies this by adding 好き (liking), emphasizing that the person is doing exactly what they want.