好自為之
Chinese
    
| good; well; be fond of | from; self; oneself from; self; oneself; since  | 
because of; for; to because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become  | 
's; him/her/it; this | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (好自為之/好自爲之) | 好 | 自 | 為/爲 | 之 | |
| simp. (好自为之) | 好 | 自 | 为 | 之 | |
| alternative forms | 耗子尾汁 Internet slang | ||||
Etymology
    
Initially from Huainanzi – see quote below.
Pronunciation 1
    
Idiom
    
好自為之
- (original meaning, literary, archaic) to like to do everything him/herself in one's own way
- 君人者不任能而好自為之,則智日困而自負其責也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
 - From: Huainanzi, 2nd century BCE
 - Jūn rén zhě bù rèn néng ér hào zì wéi zhī, zé zhì rì kùn ér zì fù qí zé yě. [Pinyin]
 - If the monarch does not appoint the capable but rather likes to handle the matters by himself, his intelligence will be increasingly exhausted and he will bear the consequences himself.
 
君人者不任能而好自为之,则智日困而自负其责也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
 
Pronunciation 2
    
Idiom
    
好自為之
- (early modern, now rare) to do one's best; to endeavour to do something
 - (more common meaning nowadays, as a threat or admonition, derogatory) [You] better behave yourself, otherwise [you] will be in trouble! / You better watch out for yourself! You have been warned!
 
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