1.
doing as one pleases; acting freely and selfishly
Behaving however one wants without regard for rules, expectations, or other people's feelings. Carries a negative connotation of selfishness or inconsideration.
自由勝手な振る舞いは困る。
Behaving however you please is problematic.
ルールを無視して自由勝手に行動する人がいる。
There are people who ignore the rules and act however they want.
子どもに自由勝手にさせるのではなく、基本的なマナーは教えるべきだ。
Rather than letting children do whatever they want, you should teach them basic manners.
A four-character compound combining 自由 (freedom) and 勝手 (selfishness, doing as one pleases). Both components can stand alone with similar meanings, but together they emphasize unbridled, selfish behavior. Almost always used critically.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 自由勝手な行動: self-centered behavior
- 自由勝手な振る舞い: acting however one pleases
- 自由勝手にする: to do as one pleases
- 自由勝手に振る舞う: to behave freely and selfishly
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 勝手: selfish, arbitrary — the shorter, more common word for selfish behavior
- 身勝手: selfish — emphasizes self-centeredness at others' expense
- {気まま}: whimsical, free-spirited — lighter tone, not necessarily negative
- 奔放: uninhibited — can be positive or negative depending on context