1.
to start; to begin; to get involved in (an activity)
To begin engaging in an activity or field. Can be neutral but often carries a negative connotation when referring to undesirable activities.
2.
to get one's hands dirty; to become involved in (wrongdoing)
To become implicated in or start participating in illegal, immoral, or undesirable activities.
Idiom structure
Literally "to dye one's hands" - implies getting deeply involved in something, as if the activity has stained one's hands.
Usage
- Can be neutral when referring to arts, hobbies, or professions
- Often negative when referring to illegal or immoral activities
- Suggests deep involvement, not superficial engagement
- The "dye" metaphor implies lasting involvement that's hard to wash away
Common patterns
〜に手を染める - to get involved in ~
Common collocations
- 犯罪に手を染める - to get involved in crime
- 悪事に手を染める - to engage in wrongdoing
- 政治に手を染める - to get into politics
- 芸術に手を染める - to take up art
Similar words
- 手を出す - to get involved in (also often negative)
- 首を突っ込む - to stick one's nose into
- 足を踏み入れる - to step into, to enter (a field)
Register
Neutral to literary. Common in written Japanese and dramatic contexts.
Related Words
Related:
手を出す (to get involved in)