窺 meaning and stroke order
To peep, to spy on, to watch
How to write 窺, stroke by stroke
16 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 窺
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to peep
- to pry into
How 窺 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hole.
穴 gives the meaning and 規 hints at the sound.
Radical: 穴 (cave), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 窺
Picture someone pressing an eye to a hole 穴 (xué) in the wall to peek inside. The bottom part 規 (guī) gives the sound, and kuī sounds close to guī.
窺 (kuī) is mostly used in compound words rather than alone, and it often suggests secret or improper watching. Common words are 偷窺 (tōukuī, to peep), 窺探 (kuītàn, to pry into) and 窺視 (kuīshì, to spy on). Example: 有人在窗外窺視。(Yǒu rén zài chuāng wài kuīshì.) Someone is spying from outside the window.
Common mistake: Learners often read 窺 as guī because of the phonetic part 規 (guī), but the correct reading is kuī with a first tone. Also keep the top as 穴 (xué), not 宀 (mián). The 穴 top has the two extra strokes 八 under the roof.
Common words with 窺
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 偷窺 | tōukuī | to peep; to peek | HSK 7-9 |
| 窺探 | kuītàn | to pry into or spy on; to snoop | |
| 窺視 | kuīshì | to peep at; to spy on | |
| 偷窺狂 | tōukuīkuáng | voyeur; peeping tom |
Questions about 窺
How many strokes are in 窺?
窺 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 窺 mean?
窺 (kuī) means to peep, to spy on, to watch. A common word with it is 偷窥 (tōukuī), meaning "to peep; to peek".
How do you pronounce 窺?
窺 is pronounced kuī, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 窺?
The radical of 窺 is 穴, which carries the idea of "cave". Dictionaries list 窺 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 窺?
窺 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 窥, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 窺 the same as 看 (kàn)?
No. 看 (kàn) is the neutral everyday word for look or watch. 窺 (kuī) means looking secretly or through a small gap, so it carries a sense of sneakiness or prying.
How is 窺 written in simplified Chinese?
In simplified Chinese it is written 窥, with 规 (guī) as the bottom part. So 偷窺 becomes 偷窥 and 窺探 becomes 窥探.