Meanings of 賊
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About 賊
Podcast: 賊
Podcast: 賊
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AI Study Notes for 賊
贼 (zéi) vs 小偷 (xiǎotōu) — use 贼 for a broader sense of 'thief' or 'traitor' that includes deceitful behavior, while 小偷 specifically refers to a 'pickpocket' or 'burglar'.
This word is generally used in informal contexts when referring to theft or betrayal. Be cautious with its negative connotation; using it in a formal setting can come off as rude. Common collocations include '賊心' (thief's heart) and '海賊' (pirate).
Although 賊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other HSK words related to crime and trust, such as 盗 (dào - to steal) and 背叛 (bèipàn - to betray). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in colloquial sentences.
Learners often confuse 賊 with 盗 (dào), thinking they are interchangeable, but 盗 specifically refers to the act of stealing, while 賊 implies a traitorous nature. For example, saying '他是一个盗' (tā shì yīgè dào) is incorrect when describing someone deceitful; instead, use '他是一个賊' (tā shì yīgè zéi).
Pronunciation of 賊
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Etymology of 賊
Phonosemantic compound. 戎 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賊.
weapons
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 賊
Phonosemantic compound. 戎 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賊.
- 1The meaning half戎 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half貝 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayweapons
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 賊
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How to say thief, traitor; cunning, sly in Chinese
“thief, traitor; cunning, sly” in Chinese is賊
The character 賊 (zéi) primarily means 'thief' or 'traitor,' referring to someone who steals or betrays trust. It can also imply cunning or sly behavior, often used to describe someone who is deceitful or untrustworthy in various contexts.
When to use 賊
This word is generally used in informal contexts when referring to theft or betrayal. Be cautious with its negative connotation; using it in a formal setting can come off as rude. Common collocations include '賊心' (thief's heart) and '海賊' (pirate).
賊 or something close to it
贼 (zéi) vs 小偷 (xiǎotōu) — use 贼 for a broader sense of 'thief' or 'traitor' that includes deceitful behavior, while 小偷 specifically refers to a 'pickpocket' or 'burglar'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 賊 with 盗 (dào), thinking they are interchangeable, but 盗 specifically refers to the act of stealing, while 賊 implies a traitorous nature. For example, saying '他是一个盗' (tā shì yīgè dào) is incorrect when describing someone deceitful; instead, use '他是一个賊' (tā shì yīgè zéi).
Write 賊
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Word Family of 賊
Compound Meaning
What does 贼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 賊
No, 賊 can also refer to someone who betrays trust, not just someone who commits physical theft.
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