(chī) - To spy on & to secretly observe or eavesdrop

Tone 1

chī | 12 strokes | radical:

· chī

To spy on;

to secretly observe or eavesdrop;

to pry into others' affairs covertly.

To spy onto secretly observe or eavesdropto pry into others' affairs covertly.

Usage highlights

spy oneavesdroppeep secretlysecret observationpry intocovert watching

Synonyms

  • to peep; to spy
  • to investigate; to spy
  • to watch; to wait for an opportunity

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He tried to spy on the secret meeting (訵探秘密会议).
  • The detective eavesdropped on the conversation (侦探訵听对话).
  • She was caught peeping through the keyhole (她被抓住从钥匙孔訵视).

Collocations

  • spy on(訵探)
  • eavesdrop(訵听)
  • peep secretly(訵视)
  • secret observation(訵察)
  • pry into(訵窥)
  • covert watching(訵伺)

Idioms

  • To spy and eavesdrop(訵听窥视)
  • Secret observation and covert watching(訵察窥伺)
  • To pry into others' private affairs(訵探私密)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character carries negative connotations of invasion of privacy and unethical behavior.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, respecting others' privacy is highly valued, making this character generally undesirable.
  • The character is rarely used in modern Chinese and appears mainly in classical texts.

FAQ