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盗窃 (dào qiè) — to steal

Definition

Formal legal term for 'to steal', used in official and written contexts like crime reports. Compare 偷 (everyday verb) and 窃取 (steal information or secrets, not physical goods).

verb
to steal

Examples

  • 盗窃。
    Tā yīn dào qiè shòu dào le fǎ lǜ de chéng fá.
    He was punished by the law for stealing.
  • 。
    Zhè qǐ dào qiè àn hái zài diào chá zhōng.
    This theft case is still under investigation.
  • 盗窃。
    Rén rén dōu fǎn duì dào qiè xíng wéi.
    Everyone is against stealing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

盗dàosteal
窃qièsteal

盗窃 joins 盗 (steal) and 窃 (steal) as parallel ways to say taking another's property.

Characters in this word

Most 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.

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.

Open 盗 →

Most 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 竊; 窃 is its simplified writing.

  • 米米mǐrice
  • 攴攴pūaction
  • 禼禼xiè

For 窃, the traditional form 竊 combines 米 and 攴 with 禼, which gives the sound.

Open 窃 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Crime & Police

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