Chinese word

盗窃

Pronunciation

Pinyindào qiè

Meaning

  • nountheft

Example

盗窃是违法的。dào qiè shì wéi fǎ de

Theft is illegal.

Illustration for 盗窃 (theft)

More examples

商店为了防止盗窃，安装了监控摄像头。shāng diàn wèi le fáng zhǐ dào qiè ān zhuāng le jiān kòng shè xiàng tóu

The store installed surveillance cameras to prevent theft.

Core concept

Someone quietly takes another person's property while avoiding notice and force.

Common phrases

  • 盗窃行为dào qiè xíng wéi

    act of theft

  • 盗窃案dào qiè àn

    theft case

  • 入室盗窃rù shì dào qiè

    burglary

Similar words

偷窃tōu qiè: Secretly taking property that belongs to someone else.
小偷xiǎo tōu: Someone who secretly takes things belonging to others.

Definition in Chinese

指以秘密或隐蔽的方式取得他人财物的行为，属于违法行为，通常不伴随暴力。zhǐ yǐ mì mì huò yǐn bì de fāng shì qǔ dé tā rén cái wù de xíng wéi shǔ yú wéi fǎ xíng wéi tōng cháng bú bàn suí bào lì

Word origin

盗 (dào, "steal") + 窃 (qiè, "take secretly") form a formal term for secretly taking another person's property.

Usage tips

  • In news reports and legal notices, this noun usually names an offense or case, so its register is more formal than everyday conversation.

Other meanings

  • stealverb

Related words

  • 盗窃罪dào qiè zuìtheft crimenoun
  • 盗窃犯dào qiè fànthiefnoun

Word lists with this word