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March 24, 2026
窃(竊)qiè(qie4)
The character 窃 (qiè) primarily means 'to steal' or 'to secretly take something that doesn't belong to you.' It can also imply a sense of stealth or humility, especially when used in a humble context referring to oneself. You'll often encounter it in discussions surrounding theft or secretive actions.
Strokes9Radical穴Frequency#6608DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions around theft are often tied to moral lessons about honesty and integrity, making 窃 a character that carries significant weight in literature and social discussions, particularly regarding trust.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sneaky cat (the radical 窗, which means window) trying to steal a fish from a bowl. The cat is trying to be stealthy, which connects to the meaning of 窃. The sound 'qiè' can remind you of 'quiet,' reinforcing the idea of stealth.
Meanings of 窃
qiè(qie4)
1to steal
2secretly
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 窃
窃Simplified
竊Traditional
9Strokes
穴Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#6608Frequency Rank
Podcast: 窃
Podcast: 窃
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AI Study Notes for 窃
Quick Contrast
盗 (dào) - use 窃 (qiè) when emphasizing stealth or humility in the act of stealing, whereas 盗 (dào) emphasizes the act of theft itself without those nuances.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 窃 with other similar characters, such as 偷 (tōu), which also means 'to steal' but carries a more casual tone. 窃 is often used in more formal or literary contexts, so it’s suitable for written language rather than everyday conversation. Remember to use the correct tone when pronouncing it, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 窃 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to themes of theft and secrecy, which appear in HSK Level 3 and 4 vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts discussing crime or privacy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 窃 with 偷 (tōu) and incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我窃了这本书' (wǒ qiè le zhè běn shū) instead of '我偷了这本书' (wǒ tōu le zhè běn shū) which is more appropriate in informal contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 窃
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Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 切 represents the sound. Simplified form of 竊.
1The meaning half穴 carries the sense.
2The sound half切 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhole
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 窃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 窃?
Decomposition of 窃
IDS Structure⿱穴切
窃Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
切qie1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 窃?
How to say to steal in Chinese
“to steal” in Chinese is窃qiè
The character 窃 (qiè) primarily means 'to steal' or 'to secretly take something that doesn't belong to you.' It can also imply a sense of stealth or humility, especially when used in a humble context referring to oneself. You'll often encounter it in discussions surrounding theft or secretive actions.
When to use 窃
Be careful not to confuse 窃 with other similar characters, such as 偷 (tōu), which also means 'to steal' but carries a more casual tone. 窃 is often used in more formal or literary contexts, so it’s suitable for written language rather than everyday conversation. Remember to use the correct tone when pronouncing it, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
窃 or something close to it
盗 (dào) - use 窃 (qiè) when emphasizing stealth or humility in the act of stealing, whereas 盗 (dào) emphasizes the act of theft itself without those nuances.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 窃 with 偷 (tōu) and incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我窃了这本书' (wǒ qiè le zhè běn shū) instead of '我偷了这本书' (wǒ tōu le zhè běn shū) which is more appropriate in informal contexts.
Write 窃
窃
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Practice writing 窃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 窃
窃 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
把盗____艺术品看作是一种绅士犯罪的观念已经过时了。
The image of art theft as a gentleman's crime is outdated.
