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专横跋扈
专横跋扈
专横跋扈
专横跋扈
专横跋扈
专横跋扈
专横跋扈

专横跋扈 — “To be extremely overbearing, arbitrary, and domineering”

专横跋扈 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be extremely overbearing, arbitrary, and domineering”. Acting without regard for others' rights or feelings and being unreasonably tyrannical. Literally, “arbitrary and domineering; despotic and overbearing”.

Frequency

专横跋扈 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 专zhuān
  • 横hèng
  • 跋bá
  • 扈hù

专横跋扈 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
专
zhuān4specialized and exclusive
横
hèng15horizontal, sideways, across
跋
bá12trek or journey arduously
扈
hù11accompany or serve as escort

Example Sentence with 专横跋扈

那位项目经理总是对团队成员发号施令,态度十分专横跋扈,让大家感到很不满。
The project manager always gave orders to team members in a very arbitrary and domineering manner, which made everyone quite dissatisfied.

Origin and Story of 专横跋扈

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was an extremely arrogant and fierce general named Liang Ji. Relying on the fact that his sister was Empress to Emperor Shun, he became incredibly powerful and acted with extreme arrogance. He once had the entire Lu Fang family executed with just a single word.

After Emperor Shun's death, Liang Ji showed utter disrespect for successive emperors, including Emperor Chong, Emperor Zhi, and Emperor Huan. He seized and manipulated all the imperial power within the court.

Emperor Huan, unable to tolerate Liang Ji's arbitrary and domineering behavior any longer, finally resolved to eliminate this tyrannical general.

Idioms Related to 专横跋扈

Synonyms of 专横跋扈

  • zì恣xíng行wú无jì忌act wantonly without scruples
  • héng横xíng行bà霸dào道act like a tyrant
  • sì肆wú无jì忌dàn惮act recklessly and without scruples

Antonyms of 专横跋扈

  • bīn彬bīn彬yǒu有lǐ礼refined and very polite
  • qiān谦qiān谦jūn君zǐ子A humble and self-disciplined gentleman

More idioms starting with 专

  • zhuān专yī一bù不yí移single-minded and unwavering
  • zhuān专xīn心yī一zhì志to concentrate wholeheartedly
  • zhuān专xīn心yī一yì意focus one's mind and attention wholeheartedly
  • zhuān专xīn心yí一zhì致to be fully concentrated
  • zhuān专xīn心xiàng向gōng公dedicated to public service
  • zhuān专xīn心zhì致zhì志concentrate one's attention wholeheartedly
  • zhuān专zì恣bá跋hù扈arbitrary, tyrannical, and overbearing
  • zhuān专shàn擅bá跋hù扈arbitrary and domineering
  • zhuān专quán权zì恣sì肆wield absolute power and act wantonly
  • zhuān专quán权shàn擅shì势monopolize power and act arbitrarily
  • zhuān专quán权wù误guó国monopolize power and ruin the country
  • zhuān专quán权bá跋hù扈domineering and dictatorial

Questions about 专横跋扈

What does 专横跋扈 mean?
专横跋扈 (zhuān hèng bá hù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be extremely overbearing, arbitrary, and domineering”.
How do you pronounce 专横跋扈?
专横跋扈 is pronounced zhuān hèng bá hù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 专横跋扈 literally mean?
Literally, 专横跋扈 means “arbitrary and domineering; despotic and overbearing”. It is used to mean “to be extremely overbearing, arbitrary, and domineering”.
Where does 专横跋扈 come from?
专横跋扈 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 专横跋扈?
跋扈:霸道,不讲理。专断蛮横,任意妄为,蛮不讲理。
Copy the pinyin for 专横跋扈 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

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