偷
tōu
steal
The Chinese word '偷' is used in a similar way as the English word 'steal'. It typically refers to the act of taking someone else's property without permission and with the intention of keeping it. For example, '他偷了我的钱包' means 'He stole my wallet'.
Example sentences using: 偷
我看到他在偷东西。
Wǒ kàn dào tā zài tōu dōngxī.
I saw him stealing things.
In this sentence, the action of stealing is being observed by the speaker.
不能偷人的财物。
Bùnéng tōu rén de cáiwù.
One must not steal other's possessions.
This sentence uses an imperative verb form - 'must not' or 'cannot' - to issue a moral command about not stealing.
他为什么要偷手机？
Tā wèishéme yào tōu shǒujī?
Why would he steal a cell phone?
This sentence is asking a question about someone's motivations for stealing.
谁偷走了我的水杯？
Shuí tōu zǒu le wǒ de shuǐbēi?
Who stole my water cup?
This sentence combines the action of stealing with the verb to go, resulting in 'steal away' or 'steal and go'.
别偷懒。
Bié tōulǎn.
Don't be lazy.
This phrase is a common one in Chinese, using 'steal' to mean 'slyly avoid doing work'.
她偷偷地把信放进信箱。
Tā tōu tōu de bǎ xìn fàng jìn xìnxiāng.
She secretly put the letter in the mailbox.
The phrase '偷偷地' means 'secretly' or 'slyly' and is an adverb modifying the action of the sentence.
他偷我的钱包了。
Tā tōu wǒ de qiánbāo le.
He stole my wallet.
This sentence is in the past tense, indicating that the action of stealing the wallet has already happened. The subject of the sentence is 'he'.
他们偷了我所有的金子。
Tāmen tōu le wǒ suǒyǒu de jīnzi.
They stole all my gold.
None
偷钱是犯罪行为。
tōu qián shì fànzuì xíngwéi.
Stealing money is a criminal act.
In this sentence we have a subject and verb structure where the action - stealing money - is described as being a criminal act.
偷时间看书是我的爱好。
Tōu shíjiān kànshū shì wǒ de àihào.
Stealing time to read books is my hobby.
This sentence uses the word steal in a less literal sense to describe taking time out from other activities to read books.