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Kotomora

恣

selfish, arbitrary

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • シ

Kun'yomi

  • ほしいまま

Meaning

恣 centers on acting purely from one's own desires without external restraint: selfishness and arbitrary behavior. Both given meanings flow from this idea of unchecked personal will.

Most common words using 恣

  • 恣意しい

    arbitrariness; self-will; whim

  • 恣ほしいまま

    selfish; self-indulgent; arbitrary

  • 恣にするほしいままにする

    to abuse; to exploit to the full; to give free rein to

  • 恣心ししん

    selfish, self-indulgent heart

  • 恣意性しいせい

    arbitrariness

  • 恣意的しいてき

    arbitrary

  • 放恣ほうし

    licentious; self-indulgent

  • 驕恣きょうし

    being proud and self-willed

Explore all words using 恣 →

Study

Etymology

恣 combines 次 (next, order) with 心 (heart/mind), suggesting a mind that follows its own order or desires without restraint. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure with 次 contributing the sound シ is plausible.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 次 looks like a person leaning over, and the bottom 心 is the heart. Imagine someone leaning only toward their own heart's wishes, ignoring others—that's selfish and arbitrary.

Reading mnemonic

For シ, picture a selfish person saying 'She' wants everything her own way: 'She' -> シ, and her heart 心 follows only her own order 次.