COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 偷 is built
Traditional etymology note: 亻 (person) suggests the meaning, while 俞 suggests the pronunciation.
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How to Write 偷 (tōu) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
to steal
tōuTone 1 (High)Keep your pitch high and level.
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 11 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
tōu
偷
to steal
Common words
tōu tōu
偷偷
stealthily; secretly; covertly; furtively
tōu kuī
偷窥
to peep; to peek; to act as voyeur
tōu lǎn
偷懒
to goof off; to be lazy
xiǎo tōu ér
小偷儿
erhua variant of 小偷|小偷[xiao3tou1]
tōu
偷
to steal; to pilfer; to snatch; thief
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
偷
偷
偷
偷
偷
偷
偷
偷
LEARNING TIP
Remember 偷
Say “tōu” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 11 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 偷
Common words and phrases
tōu tōu
stealthily; secretly; covertly; furtively
tōu kuī
to peep; to peek; to act as voyeur
tōu lǎn
to goof off; to be lazy
xiǎo tōu ér
erhua variant of 小偷|小偷[xiao3tou1]
tōu
to steal; to pilfer; to snatch; thief
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 偷?
偷 is written with 11 strokes.
What does 偷 (tōu) mean?
偷 (tōu) means to steal.
What is the radical of 偷?
The radical of 偷 is 亻, associated with Not yet classified.