小偷

xiǎo tōu

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Common

Definitions

1. thief

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $49.99 / year

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

强盗

qiáng dào

to rob (with force)

强盗 is a robber or bandit, often implying violence, while 小偷 is a petty thief.

Synonyms

1 item

贼

zéi

thief

Both mean thief, 贼 is more colloquial and sometimes more general.

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 小偷 (thief) with 小头 (small head) due to similar pronunciation.

Formality

小偷 is the neutral word for thief. 贼 is more colloquial, often used in northern China.

Example Sentences

5 shown

小偷企图逃跑，但被警察抓住了。

The thief attempted to escape, but was caught by the police.

小偷看见警察就逃了。

The thief ran away as soon as he saw the police.

小偷窜进了巷子。

The thief darted into the alley.

小偷试图抢夺她的包。

The thief attempted to snatch her bag.

警察捕到了小偷。

The police caught the thief.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 小偷

to steal

small

小偷