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偷窥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
偷窥tōukuīto peepHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #7749, Very Hard
偷窥tōukuīto peekHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #7749, Very Hard
偷窥tōukuīto act as voyeurHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #7749, Very Hard
tōukuī(tou1kui1)tou kui T1
  1. 1to peep
  2. 2to peek
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March 24, 2026

偷窥(偷窺)tōukuī(tou1kui1)

偷窥 (tōu kuī) refers to the act of secretly looking at something that one is not supposed to see, often in a clandestine or sneaky manner. This term is commonly used in contexts involving privacy invasion, such as spying on someone or looking at private situations without consent.

Strokes24Frequency#7749DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of privacy is evolving, especially with the rise of social media. However, the act of 偷窥 is often viewed negatively, as it directly contradicts the values of respect and personal boundaries.

Memory tip

Imagine a sneaky thief (偷, tōu) peeking (窥, kuī) through a keyhole. The thief wants to steal a glance at something private, emphasizing the secretive nature of the action. Visualize this scene in your mind to connect the characters to their meaning.

Meanings of 偷窥

tōukuī(tou1kui1)
1to peep
2to peek
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About 偷窥

偷窥Simplified
偷窺Traditional
24Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 偷窥

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AI study notes for 偷窥

Quick Contrast

窥视 (kuī shì) - use 偷窥 when emphasizing secrecy and sneakiness, while 窥视 is more neutral and can imply merely observing without the same connotation of wrongdoing.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using this word; it is often associated with negative connotations related to privacy invasion. It is typically used in informal contexts, and common collocations include '偷窥别人的隐私' (to peep into someone else's privacy).

HSK Study Tips

While this word may not be explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it can be understood through its components. Students should focus on the characters 偷 (to steal) and 窥 (to peek), which highlight the word's meaning and context in conversations about privacy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 偷窥 with 观察 (guān chá, to observe), which implies a legitimate observation rather than a secretive act. For example, saying '我想观察她' (I want to observe her) can sound neutral, while '我想偷窥她' (I want to peep at her) implies a violation of privacy.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 偷窥

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Component characters

偷tōuto steal
HSK 611 strokes亻
View full entry
窥kuīto peep, to spy on, to watch
13 strokes穴
View full entry

How to say to peep in Chinese

“to peep” in Chinese is偷窥tōukuī

偷窥 (tōu kuī) refers to the act of secretly looking at something that one is not supposed to see, often in a clandestine or sneaky manner. This term is commonly used in contexts involving privacy invasion, such as spying on someone or looking at private situations without consent.

When to use 偷窥

Be cautious with the tone when using this word; it is often associated with negative connotations related to privacy invasion. It is typically used in informal contexts, and common collocations include '偷窥别人的隐私' (to peep into someone else's privacy).

偷窥 or something close to it

窥视 (kuī shì) - use 偷窥 when emphasizing secrecy and sneakiness, while 窥视 is more neutral and can imply merely observing without the same connotation of wrongdoing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 偷窥 with 观察 (guān chá, to observe), which implies a legitimate observation rather than a secretive act. For example, saying '我想观察她' (I want to observe her) can sound neutral, while '我想偷窥她' (I want to peep at her) implies a violation of privacy.

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偷
窥

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Frequently asked questions about 偷窥

Yes, it generally carries a negative connotation, as it implies invading someone's privacy.

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