tōu HSK 5

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

不要偷别人的东西。
Bùyào tōu biérén de dōngxi.
Don't steal other people's things.
他偷偷地离开了。
Tā tōutōu de líkāi le.
He left secretly.
小偷偷了我的钱包。
Xiǎotōu tōu le wǒ de qiánbāo.
A thief stole my wallet.
他偷了我的笔。
Tā tōu le wǒ de bǐ.
He stole my pen.
小偷偷了钱包。
Xiǎotōu tōu le qiánbāo.
The thief stole the wallet.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 偷: it contains 亻 (person radical) and 俞 (which sounds like 'you'). Imagine a person (亻) sneaking to take something from 'you'—that's stealing! Alternatively, associate the pinyin 'tōu' with the English 'toe,' as in quietly tiptoeing to steal something.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts, to describe theft or secretive actions. Common contexts include legal discussions, news reports, and everyday conversations about crime or mischief. It can also be used metaphorically, such as in 偷懒 (to be lazy, literally 'steal laziness').

📖 Grammar Points

偷 is a transitive verb and typically follows the structure: Subject + 偷 + Object (e.g., 他偷了手机). It can be used in serial verb constructions, such as 偷跑出去 (to sneak out). In negative commands, use 别偷 (don't steal).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, stealing is strongly condemned, and 偷 carries a heavy negative connotation. Historically, theft was severely punished, and this moral disapproval persists today. The word may appear in idioms or proverbs, like 偷鸡不成蚀把米 (to try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice—meaning to suffer a loss while attempting to gain).

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 抢 (qiǎng, 'to rob'), which involves force or confrontation, 偷 emphasizes secrecy and stealth. 窃 (qiè) is a more formal or literary synonym for 'to steal,' often found in compounds like 盗窃 (dàoqiè, 'theft').

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →

Related Words