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小偷小摸 (xiǎo tōu xiǎo mō) — (fixed expression) petty theft, pilfering; small-time stealing

Definition

A贬义 idiom for petty, small-scale theft — stealing little things repeatedly, not a serious heist. The doubled 小...小... structure emphasizes that each act is minor, but the habit is still blameworthy.

idiom
(fixed expression) petty theftpilferingsmall-time stealing

Examples

  • 小偷小摸，。
    Tā xiǎo shí hou jiù yǒu xiǎo tōu xiǎo mō de huài xí guàn, hòu lái gǎi hǎo le.
    He had a bad habit of petty theft when he was young, but later he reformed.
  • 小偷小摸，。
    Gōng sī lǐ zuì jìn xiǎo tōu xiǎo mō de shì qing shí yǒu fā shēng, xū yào jiā qiáng guǎn lǐ.
    Incidents of pilfering have been happening from time to time in the company recently; management needs to be strengthened.
  • ，小偷小摸。
    Rén rén dōu yīng gāi chéng shí, bù néng zuò xiǎo tōu xiǎo mō de shì.
    Everyone should be honest and not engage in petty theft.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

小偷petty theft
小xiǎopetty偷tōusteal
偏正Modifier + head
小摸petty pilfering
小xiǎopetty摸mōpilfer
偏正Modifier + head

小偷 and 小摸 both describe petty stealing; together they mean pilfering.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
俞
俞yú偷tōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 亻, a standing person, points to the idea of someone doing the act, while the right part 俞 gives the character its sound.

Open 偷 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò摸mō
Same sound today

摸 pairs 手 (hand) with 莫; 手 shows the meaning is about a hand action, and 莫 gives the sound.

Open 摸 →
Appears in
Crime & PoliceIdioms & Set Phrases

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