放纵

• Pinyin: fàng zòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 放 = 攴 + 方 (to discharge/release); 纵 = 纟+ 从 (silk thread + following — to let threads run freely — indulgence)

Meaning

To indulge; to let loose; to give free rein to. To allow oneself or others to act without restraint, often with negative consequences.

Carries a negative connotation in most contexts, implying a failure of discipline, supervision, or self-control. Can be used reflexively (放纵自己 — to indulge oneself) or transitively (放纵下属 — to let subordinates run wild). More serious than 放松 (to relax) and more specific than 纵容 (to indulge/condone).

Examples

1. 教育学者指出，对孩子的过分溺爱和毫无原则的放纵，往往会导致其在成年后缺乏规则意识和承担责任的能力，得不偿失。 Education scholars point out that excessive coddling and unprincipled indulgence of children often leaves them, as adults, lacking respect for rules and the ability to take responsibility—ultimately doing more harm than good.
2. 主管因长期对下属的违规行为视而不见、任意放纵，最终在公司内部的问责调查中被认定为监督失职，受到了相应的行政处分。 Because the supervisor long ignored subordinates’ violations and let them do as they pleased, he was ultimately found negligent in oversight during the company’s internal accountability investigation and received corresponding administrative disciplinary action.
3. 他在事业最顺遂的那段时光里开始放纵自己沉溺于奢靡的生活方式，而正是这种毫无节制的消费最终耗尽了他多年积累的财富。 During the most successful period of his career, he began indulging himself in a lavish lifestyle, and it was this unchecked spending that ultimately drained the wealth he had built up over many years.

Usage Guide

Context: parenting, management, morality, self-discipline

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 社会学研究表明，家庭管教方式中的过度放纵与青少年反社会行为的发生率之间存在显著的正相关关系，值得教育工作者和家长高度重视。(Sociological research shows a significant positive correlation between overly permissive parenting styles and the incidence of antisocial behaviour among adolescents, which warrants close attention from educators and parents.)
• 自律是创业成功的核心素质之一，一旦创始人开始在关键决策上放纵自己的直觉冲动而忽视数据和团队意见，公司便往往走上了下坡路。(Self-discipline is one of the core qualities for entrepreneurial success; once a founder starts indulging their intuitive impulses in key decisions while ignoring data and team input, the company tends to head downhill.)

Don't Say

• 放纵 to describe healthy relaxation or self-care — 放纵 implies abandoning responsibility or self-control and has a negative connotation; for positive relaxation use 放松 (relax) or 享受 (enjoy)

Origin & History

放 (to release/let loose) + 纵 (to indulge/let go) — to release and indulge without restraint

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal