noun
meddling; interference; making a pass
Almost always used in the set phrase ちょっかいを出す, meaning to meddle, interfere, or make an unwanted advance. The 'making a pass' nuance is a common colloquial extension.
See also: ちょっかいを出す
彼はいつも人の仕事にちょっかいを出す。
He always meddles in other people's work.
酔っ払って女性にちょっかいを
He got drunk, made a pass at a woman, and got scolded.
noun
pawing at something; reaching out with a paw
Describes a cat or similar animal extending a paw to hook or drag something closer. Often used in the phrase ちょっかいを出す as well, but with a literal animal subject.
猫がテーブルの上の物にちょっかいを出している。
The cat is pawing at things on the table.
noun
hand; arm; wrist; disfigured arm/hand
Archaic and derogatory term for a hand or arm, including a disfigured one. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or dialectal contexts.
江戸時代の文献では、ちょっかいが「手」を指すことがある。
In Edo-period documents, ちょっかい can refer to a hand.