偷听 (tōu tīng) — to eavesdrop, to bug
Definition
A reduplicated-VB verb meaning to secretly listen in (a conversation, call, or room). Built from 偷 (steal/secretly) + 听 (listen), so the secrecy is built in — no 秘密 needed.
verb
to eavesdropto bug
Examples
- 偷听。Nǐ bié zài mén wài tōu tīng wǒ men shuō huà.Don't eavesdrop on our conversation from outside the door.
- 偷听。Tā tōu tōu zài huì yì shì zhuāng le qiè tīng qì lái tōu tīng.He secretly planted a bug in the meeting room to eavesdrop.
- 偷听。Tā fā xiàn yǒu rén zài tōu tīng tā de diàn huà.She found someone was bugging her phone.
Appears in
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