do1 gun2 haan4 si6多管閒事多管闲事
Jyutpingdo1 gun2 haan4 si6
Yaledō gún hàahn sih
Definition
To meddle in other people's business; to pry into affairs that do not concern one.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Often used as a direct rebuke to someone who is overstepping boundaries or offering unsolicited advice. It carries a strong sense of annoyance and implies that the person being addressed is being intrusive or annoying. While it can be used as a verb phrase, it is frequently used as an adjective to describe someone's behavior as being overly nosy.
Examples
Don't be so meddlesome about other people's family matters.
Why do you need to meddle in how he does his work?
Related words
Common phrases
don't be so meddlesome
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to offer help, but it is almost exclusively used to criticize someone for being intrusive. Avoid using it if you genuinely want to offer assistance, as it will sound like you are accusing the other person of being a nuisance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
