(kuī) - To peep, spy, or observe secretly & to catch a glimpse of something.

Tone 1

kuī | 19 strokes | radical:

· kuī

To peep, spy, or observe secretly;

to catch a glimpse of something.

To peep, spy, or observe secretlyto catch a glimpse of something.

Usage highlights

To peepTo catch a glimpseTo spy secretlyTo steal a lookTo peep through a crackTo observe covertly

Synonyms

  • To peep, spy (simplified/common variant)
  • 偷看To steal a look
  • 窥视To peep, observe secretly

Antonyms

  • 正视To look directly, face squarely
  • 公开Open, public
  • 坦率Frank, straightforward

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He peeped through the keyhole (闚视).
  • She caught a glimpse of the secret document (闚见).
  • The detective spied on the suspect's activities (闚探).
  • They tried to steal a look at the examination paper (闚看).

Collocations

  • To peep(闚视)
  • To catch a glimpse(闚见)
  • To spy secretly(闚探)
  • To steal a look(闚看)
  • To peep through a crack(闚隙)
  • To observe covertly(闚察)

Idioms

  • To peep at the leopard through a tube(管闚豹)
  • To peep at the sky from a well(坐井闚天)
  • To spy on opportunities(闚伺时机)
  • To steal a glance at the beautiful woman(闚视美人)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character carries connotations of secrecy and covert observation, often with negative implications of improper or intrusive behavior.
  • In classical Chinese literature, 闚 frequently appears in contexts describing spies, thieves, or those engaging in improper surveillance.
  • The character's structure with the 'door' radical suggests peering through an opening or doorway.

FAQ