Featured image for 賊 zéi Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

Pronunciation

zéi

To complete this step you need to listen to the audio pronunciation of the word once.

zéi Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 4 English Translations of the word zéi .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
zéi | zei2
English translation
thief, traitor; cunning, sly

Learn the Chinese word zéi in 6 easy steps:

1
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the first learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
2
Unlocks in 48h after completing the first learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
3
Unlocks in 7 days after completing the second learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
Slide 1 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 2 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 3 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

About zéi

Read some general information about the Chinese word zéi .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Number of strokes

13

Traditional form

zéi

Contains the radical

bèi

Part of speech

Non-morpheme / 非语素字 Fēi yǔsù zì

Learning hint

weapons

Etymology of zéi

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word zéi .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Type

pictophonetic

Positional decomposition

貝戎

Semantic compound

róng

Phonetic compound

bèi

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. róng represents the meaning and Bèi represents the sound. Simplified form of zéi .

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word zéi .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

To complete this step you need to write the word once.

Spread the word

Words with zéi

Explore 22 words and sayings that include the Chinese character zéi in their composition.

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

FrequencySimplifiedMeaningTraditional
zéi thief zéi
盗贼 dào zéi robber盜賊
海贼 hǎi zéi pirate海賊
窃贼 qiè zéi thief竊賊
乌贼 wū zéi cuttlefish烏賊
飞贼 fēi zéi cat burglar飛賊
卖国贼 mài guó zéi traitor賣國賊
马贼 mǎ zéi horse thief馬賊
贼船 zéi chuán pirate ship賊船
贼心 zéi xīn evil intentions賊心
贼窝 zéi wō thieves' lair賊窩
国贼 guó zéi traitor to the nation國賊
做贼心虚 zuò zéi xīn xū to feel guilty as a thief (idiom); to have sth on one's conscience做賊心虛
逆贼 nì zéi renegade逆賊
贼头贼脑 zéi tóu zéi nǎo furtive賊頭賊腦
贼亮 zéi liàng bright賊亮
蟊贼 máo zéi (lit. and fig.) vermin蟊賊
奸贼 jiān zéi a traitor奸賊
乱臣贼子 luàn chén zéi zǐ rebels and traitors (idiom)亂臣賊子
贼眼 zéi yǎn shifty gaze賊眼
贼眉鼠眼 zéi méi shǔ yǎn shifty-eyed賊眉鼠眼
枪乌贼 qiāng wū zéi squid槍烏賊

zéi Decomposition & Compounds

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Copyright © 2026 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top