贼

zéi

HSK 7

贼 — zéi

1. thief; robber

   那家店上个月被贼盯上了。 nàjiā diàn shànggèyuè bèi zéi dīngshàng le — That shop was targeted by thieves last month.

2. (bound form) traitor; subversive (used in compounds or set phrases)

   官媒将那些破坏国家政策的人称为贼。 guān méi jiāng nàxiē pòhuài guójiā zhèngcè de rén chēngwèi zéi — The state media called those who undermined national policy traitors.

3. (bound form) evil; wicked

   他做事鬼鬼祟祟，眼神十分贼。 tā zuòshì guǐguǐsuìsuì yǎnshén shífēn zéi — He acts sneakily and has a very wicked look in his eyes.

4. sly; shifty; devious

   他看起来有点贼，总让我不放心。 tā kànqǐlái yǒudiǎn zéi zǒng ràng wǒ bùfàng xīn — He seems a bit shifty; I always feel uneasy around him.

5. (literary) to harm; to injure

   奸臣贼害忠良，朝政日益败坏。 jiānchén zéi hài zhōngliáng cháozhèng rìyì bàihuài — Treacherous officials harmed the loyal and upright, and the government grew steadily corrupt.

6. (colloquial, NE China & Taiwan) extremely; insanely; damn (intensifier)

   今天热得贼要命。 jīntiān rè dé zéi yàomìng — It's crazily hot today.