zing2 zi6整治
Jyutpingzing2 zi6
Yalejíng jih
Definition
To discipline, retrain, and reform a group or organization in order to restore order.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of imposing order or authority on a group that has become lax or unruly. It implies a top down approach where the goal is to correct behavior through strict measures or restructuring. While it can apply to organizations, it is also frequently used in informal contexts to describe dealing with troublesome individuals or chaotic situations.
Examples
How do you plan to discipline those disobedient kids?
Related words
Common phrases
to enforce discipline
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin meaning of political purging or severe punishment, as in Cantonese it is often used more lightly to mean tidying up a situation or getting people back in line.
Grammar color guide
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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.
