tau1 sit3偷竊偷窃
Jyutpingtau1 sit3
Yaletāu sit
Definition
Theft; the crime of stealing.
writtenother
How it's used
偷竊 is a formal, legalistic term used primarily in news reports, police statements, or court proceedings. In everyday casual conversation, people almost always use the verb phrase 偷嘢 to describe the act of stealing. Using 偷竊 in a relaxed social setting can sound overly serious or like you are reading from a newspaper.
Measure word
daan1單dānExamples
He was arrested by the police for being involved in theft.
This theft case happened late last night.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 偷竊 as a verb. While it sounds like a verb in some contexts, it is strictly a noun in Cantonese. Always use the verb 偷 or the phrase 偷嘢 when describing the action of stealing something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
