Definition
揩油 is a colloquial separable verb (离合词) with two distinct meanings. The first is 'to freeload' or 'to get petty advantages' — taking small benefits you haven't earned, like eating free snacks at a store or pocketing minor office supplies. The second, more serious meaning is 'to grope' or 'to touch a woman sexually without consent' — in this sense it borders on sexual harassment. As a separable verb, you can insert other elements between 揩 and 油: e.g., 揩了别人的油 ('freeloaded off someone'), 揩过她的油 ('groped her'). Context is essential to disambiguate.
v.o.
to freeloadto get petty advantages (by taking small benefits one hasn't earned)to gropeto touch a woman sexually without her knowledge or consent
Examples
- 揩油，。Tā zǒngshì qù péngyou jiā chīfàn kāi yóu, cónglái bù fù qián.He always freeloads meals at friends' houses and never pays.
- 揩油。Tā chèn rén duō de shíhou kāi yóu le nǚ chéngkè de yóu.He took advantage of the crowd to grope a female passenger.
- ，揩油。Bié yǐwéi zài shítáng duō ná cānjīnzhǐ shì xiǎoshì, zhè yě shì kāi yóu.Don't think taking extra napkins in the cafeteria is a small thing — that's also freeloading.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.