盗 (dào) — to steal, to rob, to plunder (formal; often used in compounds)
Definition
A formal/literary verb meaning 'to steal or rob,' used mainly in compounds (盗版, 盗窃). For everyday 'steal' use 偷; 抢劫 is used when force or threat is involved against a person.
verb
to stealto robto plunder (formal; often used in compounds)
Examples
- 。Tā dào qǔ le gōng sī de jī mì wén jiàn.He stole the company's confidential documents.
- 。Zhè ge wǎng zhàn dào bǎn le zuì xīn diàn yǐng.This website pirated the latest movie.
- 。Yǒu rén dào yòng le wǒ de xìn yòng kǎ.Someone fraudulently used my credit card.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 盜; 盗 is its simplified writing.
- 㳄㳄㳄
- 舟舟zhōuboat
The traditional form 盜 combines 㳄 (drooling/craving) with a vessel shape, meaning to covet someone else's possessions and steal; 盗 is the simplified writing of 盜.
Appears in
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