CHENGYU
一意孤行(yī yì gū xíng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, critical
- Source:
- 《史记·酷吏列传》
MEANING
- Literal
- to follow one's own will alone
- Figurative meaning
- to persist in one's own way against all advice
ORIGIN STORY
From the Records of the Grand Historian: an incorruptible official "stood apart and followed his own will" — refusing all the requests of the powerful. What began as praise of integrity became a warning against stubborn self-will.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to have one's own way regardless”
EXAMPLES
他不听大家的劝告，一意孤行。Tā bù tīng dàjiā de quàngào, yī yì gū xíng.HSK6
He ignores everyone's advice and goes his own way alone.
一意孤行的人早晚会吃亏。Yī yì gū xíng de rén zǎowǎn huì chīkuī.HSK6
Those who insist on their own way will pay for it sooner or later.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is stubbornness against good advice — not independence or courage.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01