偷

tōu

亻 + 俞

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

tōu (verb) to steal; to pilfer

tōu (adverb) stealthily; secretly

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 俞 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 俞

About

偷 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 亻 (person) indicates a human action, while 俞 provides the sound. Originally, it meant negligent or lazy, describing someone who shirked their duties. Over time, the primary meaning shifted to stealing, taking something without permission, or acting stealthily, the dominant modern sense.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他偷了一个苹果。

Tā tōu le yī gè píngguǒ.

He stole an apple.

小偷偷偷地走了。

Xiǎotōu tōutōu de zǒu le.

The thief left stealthily.

她偷看了我的日记。

Tā tōukàn le wǒ de rìjì.

She peeked at my diary.

不要偷别人的东西。

Bùyào tōu biérén de dōngxi.

Don't steal other people's things.

他因偷窃被警察逮捕。

Tā yīn tōuqiè bèi jǐngchá dàibǔ.

He was arrested by the police for theft.

偷懒是不好的习惯。

Tōulǎn shì bù hǎo de xíguàn.

Being lazy is a bad habit.

他试图偷走那辆自行车。

Tā shìtú tōu zǒu nà liàng zìxíngchē.

He attempted to steal that bicycle.

在黑暗中，他偷偷潜入房间。

Zài hēi'àn zhōng, tā tōutōu qiánrù fángjiān.

In the darkness, he stealthily sneaked into the room.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 俞

偷