盗窃 dàoqiè to steal
How to remember 盗窃: 盗 to rob + 窃 to steal = to steal.
Characters
How it is used
- To steal (theft as a crime) - 盗窃财物 (dàoqiè cáiwù) to steal property; 盗窃罪 (the crime of theft).
- Formal/legal register for theft, heavier than colloquial 偷 (tōu); appears in law and news reports.
- Also figurative: 盗窃商业机密 (steal trade secrets). Use 偷 in everyday speech, 盗窃 in legal/written contexts.
Example sentences
- 警察起诉他盗窃。 Jǐngchá qǐsù tā dàoqiè.The police accused him of theft.
- 我们走开的时候，房子被盗窃了。 Wǒmen zǒukāi de shíhòu, fángzi bèi dàoqiè le.Our house was robbed while we were away.
- 一个入室盗窃者趁我去旅游的时候闯入了我家。 Yígè rùshì dàoqièzhě chèn wǒ qù lǚyóu de shíhòu chuǎngrù le wǒjiā.A burglar broke into my house while I was away on a trip.