dim3玷
Jyutpingdim3
Yaledim
Definition
To disgrace, stain, or bring shame upon; a blemish or flaw in jade.
- to disgrace; to stain; to bring shame upon
- literarya blemish; a flaw in jade
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or literary contexts, this character is rarely encountered in everyday spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively found in compound words related to moral corruption or physical imperfections. When used as a verb, it carries a heavy sense of staining one's character or reputation.
Examples
His reputation has been tarnished by others.
There is a small blemish on this piece of jade.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 點, which is a common character for dots or points. Because 玷 is formal, using it in casual conversation will sound unnatural or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
