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染指

Mandarin · pinyin rǎn zhǐ

to dip a finger (idiom); fig. to get one's finger in the pie
to get a share of the action
abbr. for 染指於鼎

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Characters in this entry

染: rǎn · dye; be contagious; infect
指: zhǐ · finger, toe; point, indicate

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–3 · ran3 zhi3

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jim5 zi2

Cantonese word readings for 染指. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

(literally) to dip a finger
to encroach on; to have a hand in
to meddle in; to interfere in

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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