Keywords: 偷, tou, tōu, steal in Chinese, Chinese word for steal, secretly in Chinese, Chinese for furtive, sneak a look, eavesdrop in Chinese, to slack off, 小偷, 偷偷, HSK 3 vocabulary
Summary: Discover the dual meaning of the essential Chinese word 偷 (tōu). While it directly translates to “to steal,” its more frequent and nuanced use is as an adverb meaning “secretly” or “furtively.” This page breaks down how 偷 (tōu) is used for everything from describing a crime to playfully “stealing a glance” (偷看) or “slacking off” at work (偷懒). Learn its character origin, cultural context, and practical examples to master this common HSK 3 term.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tōu
Part of Speech: Verb / Adverb
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: To steal; to do something secretly or furtively.
In a Nutshell:偷 (tōu) is your go-to word for the crime of stealing. However, its real power in everyday Chinese lies in its adverbial function. It attaches to other verbs to describe an action done secretly, on the sly, or without permission. Think of it like the English word “sneak.” You can “sneak a cookie” (`偷吃饼干`), “sneak a peek” (`偷看`), or even “sneak in a nap.” Understanding this second meaning is crucial for moving beyond a literal, textbook understanding of Chinese.
Character Breakdown
偷 (tōu): The character is a combination of two components:
亻(rén): The left side is the “person” radical. It indicates that the action is performed by a person.
俞 (yú): The right side originally depicted carving a boat or transportation, and here it primarily serves as the phonetic component, giving the character its “ou” sound.
Together, you can create a mnemonic of a person (亻) furtively moving (俞) something that isn't theirs, which perfectly captures the meaning of “to steal” or “to do something secretly.”
Cultural Context and Significance
The literal act of stealing, 偷东西 (tōu dōngxi), is of course viewed negatively in Chinese culture, just as it is in the West. It violates social trust and harmony.
The more interesting cultural aspect is the widespread use of 偷 (tōu) to describe minor, everyday transgressions done “under the radar.” Actions like 偷懒 (tōulǎn - slacking off) or 偷看 (tōukàn - peeking) highlight a keen awareness of public versus private behavior, and what is considered appropriate when one is, or is not, being observed.
Comparison to Western Culture: The adverbial use of 偷 (tōu) is very similar to the English verb “to sneak.” We say, “He sneaked a look at his phone during the meeting,” which is a perfect parallel to `他开会的时候偷看手机 (tā kāihuì de shíhou tōukàn shǒujī)`. However, the `偷 + Verb` structure in Chinese is arguably more common and versatile than “to sneak” is in English, applying to a wider range of actions like listening, eating, and even laughing.
Practical Usage in Modern China
As a Verb (To Steal): This is the most direct and serious meaning. It's used in contexts of crime and theft.
`偷钱 (tōu qián)` - to steal money
`偷东西 (tōu dōngxi)` - to steal things
Connotation: Always negative and serious.
As an Adverb (Secretly / Furtively): This is the most common usage in daily conversation. It attaches directly to a verb to show the action was done stealthily.
`偷看 (tōukàn)` - to peek, steal a glance
`偷听 (tōutīng)` - to eavesdrop
`偷吃 (tōuchī)` - to sneak food, eat something secretly
`偷懒 (tōulǎn)` - to slack off when nobody's watching
`偷笑 (tōuxiào)` - to snicker, laugh secretly
Connotation: Can range from negative (eavesdropping) to neutral or even playful (snickering at a joke, sneaking a look at a birthday present).
Example Sentences
Example 1:
那个小偷偷了我的钱包。
Pinyin: Nàge xiǎotōu tōule wǒ de qiánbāo.
English: That thief stole my wallet.
Analysis: This is the most literal use of 偷 as a verb meaning “to steal.” Here, it describes a criminal act. `小偷 (xiǎotōu)` means “thief.”
Example 2:
上课的时候，请不要偷看手机。
Pinyin: Shàngkè de shíhou, qǐng búyào tōukàn shǒujī.
English: Please don't secretly look at your phone during class.
Analysis: Here, 偷 acts as an adverb modifying the verb `看 (kàn - to look)`. 偷看 (tōukàn) means to “peek” or “look furtively.” It's a very common and useful combination.
Example 3:
老板不在，我们可以偷会儿懒。
Pinyin: Lǎobǎn búzài, wǒmen kěyǐ tōu huìr lǎn.
English: The boss isn't here, we can slack off for a bit.
Analysis: 偷懒 (tōulǎn) is a set phrase meaning “to be lazy on the sly” or “to slack off.” It implies that you're only being lazy because you think you won't get caught. `会儿 (huìr)` means “for a little while.”
Example 4:
我听见他们在隔壁偷笑。
Pinyin: Wǒ tīngjiàn tāmen zài gébì tōuxiào.
English: I heard them snickering next door.
Analysis: 偷笑 (tōuxiào) means to laugh secretly or to snicker. The action of laughing is done in a way to avoid being noticed.
Example 5:
别偷听我们说话，这不礼貌。
Pinyin: Bié tōutīng wǒmen shuōhuà, zhè bù lǐmào.
English: Don't eavesdrop on our conversation, it's not polite.
Analysis: Like `偷看`, 偷听 (tōutīng) combines 偷 with a verb of perception, `听 (tīng - to listen)`, to mean “to listen secretly” or “eavesdrop.”
Example 6:
减肥的时候，我总是半夜偷偷偷吃零食。
Pinyin: Jiǎnféi de shíhou, wǒ zǒngshì bànyè tōutōu tōuchī língshí.
English: When I'm on a diet, I always sneak snacks in the middle of the night.
Analysis: 偷吃 (tōuchī) means “to eat something secretly,” often something you're not supposed to have. The sentence also uses `偷偷 (tōutōu)`, the adverb form, for emphasis.
Example 7:
他偷偷地给女朋友准备了一个生日惊喜。
Pinyin: Tā tōutōu de gěi nǚpéngyou zhǔnbèi le yí ge shēngrì jīngxǐ.
English: He secretly prepared a birthday surprise for his girlfriend.
Analysis: This sentence uses the adverb form 偷偷 (tōutōu), often followed by `地 (de)`, to describe an entire action phrase (`给女朋友准备…`) as being done secretly. While 偷 isn't directly attached to a verb here, it shows the broader concept of stealth.
English: This article was stolen (plagiarized) from another website.
Analysis: Here, 偷 is used metaphorically for plagiarism. The structure `是…的` emphasizes that the action of “stealing” is how the article was acquired.
Example 9:
“偷得浮生半日闲”是一个有名的说法。
Pinyin: “Tōu dé fúshēng bànrì xián” shì yí ge yǒumíng de shuōfǎ.
English: “To steal half a day of leisure from a floating life” is a famous saying.
Analysis: This is a famous poetic line. Here, 偷 means to “steal” a moment of free time from one's busy life. It has a positive, appreciative connotation, showing the value of a moment of peace.
Example 10:
警察抓住了那个偷电瓶车的贼。
Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhuāzhù le nàge tōu diànpíngchē de zéi.
English: The police caught the thief who was stealing electric scooter batteries.
Analysis: This example shows 偷 as a verb within a descriptive clause. It describes the specific action of the `贼 (zéi - thief)`.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The “Steal Laziness” Trap: A common mistake for learners is to only know 偷 as “to steal.” When they encounter a phrase like 偷懒 (tōulǎn), they might try to translate it literally as “to steal laziness,” which is nonsensical. The key is to remember that `偷 + Verb` often means “to do [Verb] secretly.”
偷 vs. 偷偷 (tōu vs. tōutōu):
Use 偷 (tōu) directly before a single verb: `偷看 (tōukàn)`, `偷听 (tōutīng)`.
Use 偷偷 (tōutōu) or 偷偷地 (tōutōu de) as a general adverb to describe a longer action. It usually comes right after the subject.
Correct: `他偷偷地走了。` (Tā tōutōu de zǒu le.) - He left secretly.
Incorrect: `他偷走了。` (Tā tōu zǒu le.) - This sounds like “He stole away,” which is less common and more poetic. The normal way to say he left secretly is with `偷偷`.
Not just for bad things: Don't assume 偷 always has a negative feeling. 偷笑 (tōuxiào) can be playful, and the saying 偷得浮生半日闲 is entirely positive. Context is everything.
Related Terms and Concepts
小偷 (xiǎotōu) - Thief. The most common and neutral word for a person who steals.
偷偷 (tōutōu) - Adverb meaning “secretly, stealthily, on the sly.”
抢 (qiǎng) - To rob, snatch, or grab. This implies force and openness, the opposite of the stealthy nature of 偷.
骗 (piàn) - To deceive, to swindle, to cheat. Another form of dishonest acquisition, but through trickery rather than stealth.
贼 (zéi) - Thief, traitor. A more informal and often more derogatory term for a thief than `小偷`.
懒 (lǎn) - Lazy. The core concept in the common phrase `偷懒 (tōulǎn)`.
抄袭 (chāoxí) - To plagiarize. The formal term for “stealing” academic or creative work. `偷` can be used informally for this.