睪 (yì) - To spy on & to observe secretly

睪Tone 4

yì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

一懿

睪 · yì

To spy on;

to observe secretly;

also refers to a mole or spy.

In historical contexts, it can refer to a servant or subordinate.

To spy onto observe secretlyalso refers to a mole or spy. In

Usage highlights

Spy onSecret observationSpy personSpy prisonWatchtower for observationReconnaissance

Synonyms

  • 窥— to peep, to spy
  • 侦— to detect, to scout
  • 探— to explore, to investigate

Antonyms

  • 显— to reveal, to show openly
  • 露— to expose, to disclose

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was spying on the enemy (睪敌).
  • The detective observed secretly (睪视).
  • Ancient texts mention spies called 睪人.
  • The character appears in compound words like 睪牢 (prison for spies).

Collocations

  • Spy on(睪视)
  • Secret observation(睪察)
  • Spy person(睪人)
  • Spy prison(睪牢)
  • Watchtower for observation(睪台)
  • Reconnaissance(睪探)

Idioms

  • To observe secretly and report(睪视而报)
  • Spies everywhere(睪人四布)
  • Secret observation from high ground(登高睪视)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, 睪 was used in military contexts for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing surveillance activities and spy networks.
  • It represents the concept of covert observation in traditional Chinese strategic thought.

FAQ