📖 Meaning
Completely without fear or apprehension. Describes someone who acts with utter brazenness and no restraint whatsoever, showing no regard for rules, authority, or consequences.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase first appears in the Confucian classic 'Book of Rites' (礼记·中庸), which states that a petty person acts without fear. It was later used in the historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' (三国演义), Chapter 3, to describe the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo, who entered and exited the imperial court '略无忌惮' — utterly without fear or respect for protocol. His brazen behavior in the palace exemplified the idiom's meaning.
💡 Example Usage
他在长辈面前略无忌惮，出言不逊。
He acted completely without restraint in front of his elders, speaking rudely.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 略无忌惮
- Pinyin: lüè wú jì dàn
- Literal Translation: slightly, without, fear, dread
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4