Proverb / Kotowaza
独断専行
Making decisions and taking action on one's own without consulting others.
making a sole judgment and proceeding alone
Quick Answer
Making decisions and taking action on one's own without consulting others.
- Literal Image
- making a sole judgment and proceeding alone
- How to Use It
- Used to describe or criticize an individual who fails to consult with their peers or superiors before taking action. It highlights a lack of teamwork or a disregard for collective decision-making.
Meaning
Acting entirely on one's own judgment without seeking advice or consensus from others. The term combines 'dokudan' (judging alone) and 'senkou' (acting alone) to describe an individual who makes arbitrary decisions and carries them out independently. This behavior is viewed negatively in professional or team environments where collaboration is expected.
Literal Image
making a sole judgment and proceeding alone
How to Use It
Used to describe or criticize an individual who fails to consult with their peers or superiors before taking action. It highlights a lack of teamwork or a disregard for collective decision-making.
Tone
Critical or cautionary; it is primarily used to point out a lack of cooperation in organizational contexts.
Examples
彼の独断専行がチームの輪を乱した。
His arbitrary actions disrupted the team's harmony.
社長の独断専行にはついていけない。
I cannot keep up with the president's arbitrary decision-making.
緊急時とはいえ、独断専行は許されない。
Even in an emergency, acting on one's own authority without consultation is not permitted.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
This is a formal four-character idiom (yojijukugo) composed of kanji that can be used in professional or analytical contexts.
独断
どくだん / dokudan
one's own judgment; arbitrary decision
専行
せんこう / senkou
acting on one's own authority; arbitrary action
Usage Profile
Usage note: This behavior is viewed as a negative in a team.
Misread Risk
This term should not be used to praise decisiveness; it specifically implies a negative disregard for the opinions and consensus of others.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.