jim1 zim1腌尖
Jyutpingjim1 zim1
Yaleyīm jīm
Definition
Picky, fastidious, fussy, or choosy.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who is excessively particular about details, often to the point of being annoying to others. It is frequently used to critique someone's attitude towards food, clothing, or cleanliness. While it can be used in a lighthearted way among friends, it is inherently critical and implies that the person's standards are unreasonably high.
Examples
He is very picky, he must sit by the window when eating.
Why are you being so fussy? Just eat what is available.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin word 腌臢 which refers to being dirty or messy. In Cantonese, the meaning is strictly about being fastidious or picky, not about hygiene.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.



