act beyond one's authority; do someone else's job
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to do someone else's job; to overstep one's duties
literaryA literary term, often used critically to describe meddling or acting beyond one's purview. Implies a negative consequence or impropriety.
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
yīng应
yóu由
mì秘
shū书
chǔ处
lǐ理
，
jīng经
lǐ理
bù不
yí宜
páo庖
dài代
。
This matter should be handled by the secretary; the manager should not step in and do her job.
Měi每
gè个
bù部
mén门
zhí职
zé责
míng明
què确
，
fáng防
zhǐ止
xiāng相
hù互
páo庖
dài代
。
Each department has clearly defined responsibilities to prevent them from doing each other's jobs.
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Jiā家
zhǎng长
guò过
dù度
bāng帮
zhù助
hái孩
zi子
zuò做
zuò作
yè业
，
shí实
wéi为
yī一
zhǒng种
páo庖
dài代
。
Parents excessively helping their children with homework is, in fact, a form of overstepping.