随心所欲 suíxīnsuǒyù to follow one's heart's desires
(idiom) to follow one's heart's desires; to do as one pleases
How to remember 随心所欲: 随 follow + 心 heart + 所 place + 欲 desire = to follow one's heart's desires.
Characters
How it is used
- To do exactly as one pleases, following every whim - 退休后他随心所欲地生活 (tuìxiū hòu tā suíxīn suǒyù de shēnghuó) after retiring he lives as he pleases.
- An idiom; can be positive (freedom) or negative (self-indulgent, unrestrained), depending on context.
- Contrast 为所欲为 (wéisuǒyùwéi), which is firmly negative (doing whatever one wants, recklessly).
Example sentences
- 我可以随心所欲。 Wǒ kěyǐ suíxīnsuǒyù.I can do what I want.