sit3 ting1竊聽窃听
Jyutpingsit3 ting1
Yalesit tīng
Definition
To eavesdrop or wiretap; to secretly listen to or record others' conversations without their knowledge.
neutralcommunicationother
How it's used
While 竊聽 carries a formal or legalistic tone often associated with surveillance or espionage, the everyday term for eavesdropping is 偷聽. Use 竊聽 when referring to technical wiretapping or clandestine operations, whereas 偷聽 is the standard choice for casual social contexts like listening in on a private conversation.
Examples
They are eavesdropping on our conversation inside the room.
Are you trying to eavesdrop on someone's secrets?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 竊聽 in casual conversation as it sounds overly dramatic or like a news report. For most social situations, 偷聽 is the natural and correct word to use.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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.
