Definition

1. Adjective/Adverb:
   • Acting freely and boldly according to one's own will, without fear of anyone or anything: Describes a manner of behaving or doing things that is self-assured, unrestricted, and often defiant of authority or conventions.
   • Doing as one pleases; willfully: Indicates acting based solely on personal desire or whim, disregarding rules or others' opinions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective/Adverb:
  • Anh ấy sống một cuộc đời ngang dọc, không sợ bất cứ ai. (He lives a bold and unrestrained life, fearing no one.)
  • Cô ấy đi ngang dọc khắp đất nước để tìm hiểu văn hóa. (She travels freely and widely across the country to learn about the culture. Note: This example uses a more literal, spatial sense of crossing horizontally and vertically, which is a foundation for the idiomatic meaning.)
  • Hắn ta hành động ngang dọc trong công ty, chẳng tuân theo nội quy nào. (He acts willfully in the company, following no rules.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sống ngang dọc": to live a freewheeling, adventurous, or defiant life.
  • Sau khi về hưu, ông ấy muốn sống ngang dọc khắp nơi. (After retiring, he wants to live a free and roaming life everywhere.)
• "Làm ngang dọc": to do something in one's own way, regardless of methods or consequences.
  • Đừng có làm ngang dọc kiểu đó, phải theo quy trình chứ. (Don't do things so haphazardly like that; you must follow the procedure.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngang tàng (adj): Reckless, defiant, unruly. Often carries a stronger negative connotation of lawlessness compared to ngang dọc.
  • Tên cướp có dáng vẻ ngang tàng. (The robber had a reckless and defiant demeanor.)
• Dọc ngang: A variant form with the same meaning as ngang dọc.
  • Đi dọc ngang đất nước. (To travel the length and breadth of the country.)

Synonyms

• Tự do tự tại: carefree, completely free.
• Bất chấp: regardless, defying.
• Ngạo nghễ: arrogant, disdainful (emphasizes contempt).

Related Idioms

• "Ngang như cua": (As)横行霸道 as a crab; to be extremely domineering and tyrannical. This idiom shares the "ngang" (horizontal/defiant) root and implies bullying behavior, which is more negative than the adventurous spirit sometimes associated with ngang dọc.
  • Tên địa chủ đó ngang như cua, ai cũng ghét. (That landlord is extremely domineering, everyone hates him.)
• "Đi ngang về dọc": To come and go freely; to have unhindered access. This idiom uses the literal directional meaning.
  • Anh ấy đi ngang về dọc trong tòa nhà này như chỗ không người. (He comes and goes freely in this building as if it's empty.)

1. (Do something) in one's own sweet time (way); at will; fearless of nobody