偷

tōu

to steal

HSK 6 — —

한자 분해

Usage and Nuances

The verb 偷 (tōu) primarily means "to steal" or "to take something secretly without permission." It is commonly used in everyday contexts involving theft, such as stealing wallets or other possessions.

Besides literal theft, 偷 can also describe sneaky or secretive actions, like 偷看 (to sneak a look) or 偷懒 (to slack off). These figurative uses imply doing something covertly or avoiding responsibility.

Common Collocations

  • 偷东西 (tōu dōngxi): to steal things
  • 偷看 (tōu kàn): to sneak a look
  • 偷懒 (tōu lǎn): to slack off

These collocations show how 偷 extends beyond physical theft to secretive or lazy behavior.

Register and Tone

偷 is neutral but often carries a negative connotation because it involves dishonesty or wrongdoing. It is appropriate in both spoken and written Chinese when describing theft or secretive actions.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse 偷 with 抢 (qiǎng), which means "to rob" or "to snatch" and often implies force or violence. 偷 emphasizes stealth and secrecy rather than confrontation.

예문

他偷了别人的钱包。

Tā tōu le biérén de qiánbāo.

He stole someone else's wallet.

不要偷看别人的手机。

Bù yào tōu kàn biérén de shǒujī.

Don't sneak a look at someone else's phone.

他总是喜欢偷懒,不想认真工作。

Tā zǒng shì xǐhuān tōu lǎn, bù xiǎng rènzhēn gōngzuò.

He always likes to slack off and doesn't want to work seriously.