Chinese word

海盗

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎi dào

Meaning

  • nounpirate

Example

孩子们喜欢讲海盗的故事。hái zi men xǐ huān jiǎng hǎi dào de gù shì

Children like telling stories about pirates.

Illustration for 海盗 (pirate)

More examples

商船遭到海盗袭击。shāng chuán zāo dào hǎi dào xí jī

The merchant ship was attacked by pirates.

Core concept

A sea-based raider who uses force or threats to take other people's property, often with a crew.

Common phrases

  • 海盗船hǎi dào chuán

    pirate ship

  • 海盗袭击hǎi dào xí jī

    pirate attack

  • 海盗活动hǎi dào huó dòng

    pirate activity

Similar words

盗贼dào zéi: A person or group that steals other people's property.
强盗qiáng dào: A person or group that uses force or threats to take other people's property.

Definition in Chinese

在海上用武力或威胁夺取他人财物的人或团体，也用于指相关的抢劫行为。zài hǎi shàng yòng wǔ lì huò wēi xié duó qǔ tā rén cái wù de rén huò tuán tǐ yě yòng yú zhǐ xiāng guān de qiǎng jié xíng wéi

Word origin

海 (hǎi, "sea") + 盗 (dào, "robber") forms a compound meaning a robber at sea.

Usage tips

  • News reports use this word for real maritime crime, while adventure stories use it for fictional crews and voyages, so the surrounding context determines the tone.

Opposites

  • 海军hǎi jūnnavynoun
  • 海岸警卫队hǎi àn jǐng wèi duìcoast guardnoun

Related words

  • 海盗船hǎi dào chuánpirate shipnoun
  • 海盗集团hǎi dào jí tuánpirate groupnoun
  • 海盗行为hǎi dào xíng wéipirate behaviornoun

Word lists with this word