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偷看 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
偷看tōukànto peepHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #6549, Very Hard
偷看tōukànto peekHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #6549, Very Hard
偷看tōukànto steal a glanceHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #6549, Very Hard
tōukàn(tou1kan4)tou kan T1
  1. 1to peep
  2. 2to peek
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March 24, 2026

偷看tōukàn(tou1kan4)

偷看 (tōu kàn) means to secretly look at something, often without the knowledge of the person being observed. This term is commonly used in informal contexts, such as describing someone sneaking a glance at a private moment or checking someone’s phone without permission. It carries a nuance of mischief or intrusion.

Strokes20Frequency#6549DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, privacy is often respected, and 偷看 is seen as intrusive behavior. This term can be related to the concept of face (面子), where respecting others' privacy is important to maintain social harmony.

Memory tip

Imagine a sneaky thief (偷) who quietly glances (看) at a treasure. The thief peeks around a corner, representing the act of 'peeping' while trying not to be seen. The character 偷 (tōu) looks like a person hiding, and 看 (kàn) resembles eyes looking out.

Meanings of 偷看

tōukàn(tou1kan4)
1to peep
2to peek
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About 偷看

偷看Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 偷看

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AI study notes for 偷看

Quick Contrast

偷听 (tōutīng) - use 偷看 when referring to secretly looking at something, while 偷听 specifically means secretly listening to conversations.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 偷看, as it can imply a lack of respect for privacy. Common mistakes include using it in overly formal contexts; it's best suited for casual conversations. Remember that the second tone in 看 (kàn) is crucial to pronounce correctly.

HSK Study Tips

While 偷看 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be understood through the HSK 1 vocabulary of '看' (to see) and '偷' (to steal). Students should focus on combining these two characters to grasp the meaning as they progress.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the tones and say 'tóu kàn' instead of 'tōu kàn.' Additionally, they might use it in formal settings, which can sound awkward, as in saying '在会议上偷看' (peeping in a meeting).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 偷看

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Component characters

偷tōuto steal
HSK 611 strokes亻
View full entry
看kànto see
HSK 19 strokes目
View full entry

How to say to peep in Chinese

“to peep” in Chinese is偷看tōukàn

偷看 (tōu kàn) means to secretly look at something, often without the knowledge of the person being observed. This term is commonly used in informal contexts, such as describing someone sneaking a glance at a private moment or checking someone’s phone without permission. It carries a nuance of mischief or intrusion.

When to use 偷看

Be cautious with the context in which you use 偷看, as it can imply a lack of respect for privacy. Common mistakes include using it in overly formal contexts; it's best suited for casual conversations. Remember that the second tone in 看 (kàn) is crucial to pronounce correctly.

偷看 or something close to it

偷听 (tōutīng) - use 偷看 when referring to secretly looking at something, while 偷听 specifically means secretly listening to conversations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the tones and say 'tóu kàn' instead of 'tōu kàn.' Additionally, they might use it in formal settings, which can sound awkward, as in saying '在会议上偷看' (peeping in a meeting).

Write 偷看

偷
看

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Frequently asked questions about 偷看

Yes, it generally has a negative connotation, implying a lack of respect for privacy.

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