贼

賊

zéi

戎 + 贝

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zéi (noun) thief; criminal

zéi (adjective) deceitful; wily

zéi (adverb) extremely

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 戈 represents the meaning and 则 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賊.

Semantic: 戎 Phonetic: 贝

About

The character 贼 (traditional form 賊) is an ideogrammatic compound combining the cowrie shell radical 贝 (representing wealth) on the left with the component 戎 (meaning weapon or military force) on the right. This structure illustrates the concept of using armed force to damage or steal property. Its core meaning denotes a thief or robber, and it extends to describe traitors or those who harm the state or society, carrying a strong derogatory connotation of deceit and malice.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

警察抓住了那个贼。

Jǐngchá zhuā zhù le nàge zéi.

The police caught that thief.

这个贼很狡猾。

Zhège zéi hěn jiǎohuá.

This thief is very cunning.

昨晚有一个贼进了我家。

Zuó wǎn yǒu yīgè zéi jìnle wǒ jiā.

Last night, a thief entered my house.

盗贼偷走了她的钱包。

Dàozéi tōu zǒule tā de qiánbāo.

The thief stole her wallet.

这苹果贼甜。

Zhè píngguǒ zéi tián.

This apple is very sweet.

今天的天气贼好。

Jīntiān de tiānqì zéi hǎo.

Today's weather is very good.

那个贼悄悄地溜进了房间。

Nàge zéi qiāoqiāo de liū jìnle fángjiān.

That thief quietly slipped into the room.

虽然那个贼被抓了，但他不肯承认偷了东西。

Suīrán nàge zéi bèi zhuā le, dàn tā bù kěn chéngrèn tōule dōngxī.

Although that thief was caught, he refused to admit stealing things.

Related Characters

Component: 戎

Component: 贝

贼