jim5 zi2染指
Jyutpingjim5 zi2
Yaleyíhm jí
Definition
To dabble in, meddle, or intervene in something that is not one's business.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originally referring to the act of dipping a finger into a pot of food to taste it, this term now carries a strong negative connotation of meddling or interfering where one does not belong. It is often used in professional or formal contexts to describe someone overstepping their boundaries or trying to gain an unfair share of resources. It implies a sense of greed or unwanted intrusion rather than simple curiosity.
Examples
Don't you go dabbling in other people's family business.
Why does he have to get involved in this business deal?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean simply participating in a hobby or a project you are invited to. It specifically describes an unwanted or inappropriate involvement in something that is not your concern.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
