Definition
眼线 refers to an informant or scout — often a local person who secretly provides intelligence to authorities (police, military). Unlike 间谍 (professional spy), 眼线 implies a grassroots source embedded in a community, not a trained agent. The term is used in both criminal and military contexts.
n.
informerscout(colloquial) spyenemy observer
Examples
- 眼线，。Tā gěi jǐngchá dāng yǎn xiàn, tígōng le hěn duō qíngbào.He worked as an informant for the police and provided a lot of intelligence.
- 眼线。Jǐngfāng zài fànzuì jítuán nèibù ānchā le yǎn xiàn.The police planted an informer inside the criminal organization.
- 眼线。Tā shì yì míng dí hòu gōngzuò de yǎn xiàn.He is an informant working behind enemy lines.
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