HSK 7
自A自B
zì A zì B
自A自B (an idiom expressing doing things oneself, regardless of others)
Explanation
This is a four-character idiom form (四字格 sìzìgé - a fixed four-character phrase) following the template 自A自B (zì A zì B), in which 自 (zì) means '(one)self', describing an action done by the subject itself and borne by itself, usually carrying a reproachful nuance.
自 (zì) + verb A + 自 (zì) + verb B, with A and B usually of the same type or complementing each other; for example 自说自话 (zì shuō zì huà - to talk to oneself, to act as one pleases), 自作自受 (zì zuò zì shòu - to reap what one sows), 自给自足 (zì jǐ zì zú - self-sufficient).
when emphasizing that someone acts arbitrarily, disregarding others, or brings something upon themselves and then bears the consequences; common in both speech and writing as a fixed phrase.
arbitrarily inserting verbs into the 自A自B template to 'invent' new phrases (one should only use existing established idioms); and mistakenly assuming every 自A自B phrase is negative (for example, 自给自足 has a neutral, positive meaning).
Examples
All along the way, the boss talked to himself, prattling on for ages.
Thinking of how you sabotaged our work, I really should let you reap what you have sown.
Practice
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Learn “自A自B” effectively
The grammar point “自A自B” (自A自B (an idiom expressing doing things oneself, regardless of others)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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