dou6盜盗
Jyutpingdou6
Yaledouh
Definition
To steal, rob, embezzle, or misappropriate someone else's property without their consent.
writtenother
How it's used
Functions primarily as a formal or literary morpheme rather than a standalone verb in daily speech. It is most frequently encountered in compound words like 盜竊 or 盜用, which carry a serious, legalistic tone. When describing the act of stealing in casual conversation, speakers almost always prefer 偷.
Examples
He actually dared to embezzle the company's money.
This person stole someone else's design.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 盜 as a direct verb in casual sentences, which sounds unnatural or overly dramatic. Stick to 偷 for everyday situations involving theft.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
