覘 (chān) - To spy on & to observe secretly

覘Tone 1

chān ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

覘 · chān

To spy on;

to observe secretly;

to peep;

to reconnoiter.

To spy onto observe secretlyto peep

Usage highlights

spy onsecret observationreconnoiter the enemypeep atobserve secretlyscout the situation

Synonyms

  • 窥— to peep; to spy
  • 侦— to detect; to scout
  • 察— to observe; to examine

Antonyms

  • 显— to show; to display (opposite of secret observation)
  • 露— to expose; to reveal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The scout was sent to spy on the enemy camp (覘敌营).
  • He secretly observed their activities (覘其动静).
  • The detective peered through the keyhole (从钥匙孔覘视).
  • We need to reconnoiter the terrain first (先覘地形).

Collocations

  • spy on(覘视)
  • secret observation(窥覘)
  • reconnoiter the enemy(覘敌)
  • peep at(覘看)
  • observe secretly(私覘)
  • scout the situation(覘察)

Idioms

  • To spy on the enemy's situation(覘敌观变)
  • To observe secretly and listen covertly(覘窥窃听)
  • To reconnoiter and report back(覘报敌情)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally used in military and espionage contexts for observing enemy movements.
  • Appears in classical texts describing covert intelligence gathering operations.
  • The character reflects traditional Chinese military strategy emphasizing intelligence.

FAQ