dou6 jik6 jau5 dou6盜亦有道盗亦有道
Jyutpingdou6 jik6 jau5 dou6
Yaledouh yihk yáuh douh
Definition
Even thieves have a code of conduct or moral boundaries; there is honour among thieves.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This idiom originates from the Zhuangzi and is used to describe a situation where even those engaged in illicit or immoral activities adhere to a certain internal code of ethics. It is often invoked ironically when criminals show unexpected restraint or fairness toward their victims. While it sounds formal due to its classical roots, it is frequently used in casual conversation to comment on the twisted logic of bad actors.
Examples
Even though they are thieves, they still believe there is honor among thieves.
Related words
Common phrases
to talk about honor among thieves
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
