Chinese Conversation · Level 22
90 words
Chinese word
扒手
Pronunciation
Pinyinpá shǒu
Meaning
- nounpickpocket
Example
他被扒手偷了钱包。tā bèi pá shǒu tōu le qián bāo
His wallet was stolen by a pickpocket.
More examples
地铁里要当心扒手，别把钱包放在后兜。dì tiě lǐ yào dāng xīn pá shǒu bié bǎ qián bāo fàng zài hòu dōu
Beware of pickpockets on the subway, and do not put your wallet in your back pocket.
Core concept
A person defined by a quick, concealed reach into someone else's clothing or bag to take an item.
Common phrases
当心扒手dāng xīn pá shǒu
beware of pickpockets
防范扒手fáng fàn pá shǒu
guard against pickpockets
抓住扒手zhuā zhù pá shǒu
catch a pickpocket
Similar words
小偷xiǎo tōu: A person who quietly steals things from people or stores.
盗贼dào zéi: A person who commits theft by taking things that belong to others.
抢劫犯qiǎng jié fàn: A robber who takes money or property from other people.
Definition in Chinese
专指在拥挤处用手从他人衣物或包内偷走物品的窃贼。zhuān zhǐ zài yōng jǐ chù yòng shǒu cóng tā rén yī wù huò bāo nèi tōu zǒu wù pǐn de qiè zéi
Word origin
In 扒手 (páshǒu, "pickpocket"), 扒 (pá, "to take out by hand") supplies the action and 手 (shǒu, "hand") identifies the person associated with it.
Usage tips
- Despite the English word's reference to a pocket, this Chinese noun can describe theft from a bag as well, so a pocket need not be literal.
Related words
- 扒窃pá qièpickpocketverb
- 扒窃犯pá qiè fànpickpocketnoun