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覷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
覷qùto peep, to watch, to spy onzg, 18 strokes, radical 見
qù(qu4) T4
  1. 1to peep, to watch, to spy on
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March 24, 2026

覷qù(qu4)

The character 覷 (qù) refers to the act of peeping, watching, or spying on someone or something. It conveys a sense of secretive observation, often implying a lack of permission or stealthy behavior. This word is commonly used in contexts involving surveillance or curiosity about others' actions.

Strokes18Radical見
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of spying or peeping may carry a heavier social stigma compared to some Western cultures, where privacy is also valued but sometimes viewed more lightly in casual contexts. This is reflected in various traditional tales that warn against the consequences of prying into others' affairs.

Memory Tip

Imagine a curious cat peeking through a window (the character's left side, 目, resembles an eye). The cat’s secretive nature connects to the meaning of peeping, while the pronunciation 'qù' sounds like 'cue,' as in taking a cue to spy on someone without being noticed.

Meanings of 覷

qù(qu4)
1to peep, to watch, to spy on
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 覷

覷Simplified
18Strokes
見Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 覷

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Podcast: 覷

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AI Study Notes for 覷

Quick Contrast

窥 (kuī) - choose 覷 (qù) when emphasizing secretive observation; 窥 (kuī) implies looking into or peering, often with less emphasis on stealth.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 覷 in formal contexts, as it may imply a negative connotation of invasion of privacy. Common collocations include phrases like '覷人' (to spy on someone). Ensure to pronounce it with the correct tone, as mispronouncing it may lead to confusion with unrelated words.

HSK Study Tips

While 覷 is not a standard HSK word, it relates to the broader themes of observation and attention found in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing it in written texts and understanding its nuances in informal conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 覷 with 看 (kàn, to see) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我想覷电影' (I want to peep at a movie) is incorrect; it should be '我想看电影' (I want to watch a movie).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 覷

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Etymology of 覷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

see

Semantic (meaning)見
+
Phonetic (sound)虚
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 覷

  1. 1The meaning half見 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half虚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaysee
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 覷? 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 覷?

Decomposition of 覷

IDS Structure⿰虚見
覷Full Character
=
虚xu1
left
見jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 覷?

How to say to peep, to watch, to spy on in Chinese

“to peep, to watch, to spy on” in Chinese is覷qù

The character 覷 (qù) refers to the act of peeping, watching, or spying on someone or something. It conveys a sense of secretive observation, often implying a lack of permission or stealthy behavior. This word is commonly used in contexts involving surveillance or curiosity about others' actions.

When to use 覷

Be cautious of using 覷 in formal contexts, as it may imply a negative connotation of invasion of privacy. Common collocations include phrases like '覷人' (to spy on someone). Ensure to pronounce it with the correct tone, as mispronouncing it may lead to confusion with unrelated words.

覷 or something close to it

窥 (kuī) - choose 覷 (qù) when emphasizing secretive observation; 窥 (kuī) implies looking into or peering, often with less emphasis on stealth.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 覷 with 看 (kàn, to see) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我想覷电影' (I want to peep at a movie) is incorrect; it should be '我想看电影' (I want to watch a movie).

Write 覷

覷

Practice writing 覷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 覷

Words Containing This Character4
小觑to despise小覷
面面相觑to look at each other in dismay (idiom)面面相覷
觑qùto spy覷
觑视to look覷視
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 小觑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 覷

Yes, while it's primarily found in written contexts, it can be used in spoken Chinese, especially when discussing secretive actions.

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