竊 meaning and stroke order
To steal; thief; secret, stealthy
How to write 竊, stroke by stroke
22 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 竊
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to steal
- secretly
- (humble) I
How 竊 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Termites 禼 taking grain 米 to their nest 穴.
Radical: 穴 (cave), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 竊
Picture termites 禼 sneaking grain 米 back into their hole 穴 under the ground. Small creatures quietly carrying off food is the idea of stealing in secret.
竊 is the traditional form, written 窃 in simplified Chinese, and it mostly appears in formal or written words like 盗窃 (dàoqiè) and 窃听 (qiètīng) rather than in casual speech, where 偷 (tōu) is more common. Example: 他的手机被窃了。(Tā de shǒujī bèi qiè le.) His phone was stolen.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 窃 (qiè, to steal) with 切 (qiē or qiè, to cut), since they share the same sound. Also, do not use 竊 alone for everyday stealing in speech. Say 偷东西 (tōu dōngxi), not 窃东西.
Common words with 竊
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 盜竊 | dàoqiè | to steal | HSK 7-9 |
| 竊取 | qièqǔ | to steal (usu. private information, intellectual property etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 偷竊 | tōuqiè | to steal; to pilfer | |
| 竊聽 | qiètīng | to eavesdrop; to wiretap | |
| 竊聽器 | qiètīngqì | tapping device; bug | |
| 竊賊 | qièzéi | thief | |
| 失竊 | shīqiè | to lose by theft; to have one's property stolen | |
| 行竊 | xíngqiè | to steal; to commit a robbery | |
| 竊竊私語 | qièqièsīyǔ | (idiom) to whisper; to speak in whispers | |
| 剽竊 | piāoqiè | to plunder; to plagiarize |
Questions about 竊
How many strokes are in 竊?
竊 is written with 22 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 竊 mean?
竊 (qiè) means to steal; thief; secret, stealthy. A common word with it is 盗窃 (dàoqiè), meaning "to steal".
How do you pronounce 竊?
竊 is pronounced qiè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 竊?
The radical of 竊 is 穴, which carries the idea of "cave". Dictionaries list 竊 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 竊?
竊 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 窃, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 竊 mean in phrases like 窃以为?
In classical and very formal writing, 竊 can be a humble way of saying 'I' or 'in my humble opinion.' 窃以为 (qiè yǐwéi) means 'I humbly think.' It sounds bookish today.
What is the difference between 窃取 and 偷窃?
偷窃 (tōuqiè) is general stealing of property, like pickpocketing. 窃取 (qièqǔ) usually refers to stealing information, secrets, or intellectual property, or to seizing power by improper means.