Meanings of 窥
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Podcast: 窥
Podcast: 窥
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AI Study Notes for 窥
窥 (kuī) vs 望 (wàng) — use 窥 when the action implies secretive or intrusive observation, while 望 is for general looking or gazing.
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 窥, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. This word is more often used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 窥视 (kuī shì, to peep) and 窥探 (kuī tàn, to spy on).
Although 窥 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other verbs of observation, such as 看 (kàn, to look) and 观察 (guānchá, to observe). Focus on how to use it in sentences that express secretive or sneaky actions.
Learners often confuse 窥 with similar characters like 看 (kàn) which means 'to look.' For example, saying '我在窥书' (wǒ zài kuī shū) instead of '我在看书' (wǒ zài kàn shū) which means 'I am reading a book.' Use 窥 only in contexts of secretive observation.
Pronunciation of 窥
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Etymology of 窥
Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 规 represents the sound. Simplified form of 窺.
hole
Origin
窥 = 穴 + 规. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 窥
Parts
Which of these is part of 窥?
How to say to peep, to spy on, to watch in Chinese
“to peep, to spy on, to watch” in Chinese is窥
The character 窥 (kuī) means 'to peep' or 'to spy on.' It is commonly used in contexts where someone is secretly watching or looking into something, often with a sense of curiosity or invasion of privacy. This character can carry a negative connotation depending on the context, implying deceit or intrusiveness.
When to use 窥
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 窥, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. This word is more often used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 窥视 (kuī shì, to peep) and 窥探 (kuī tàn, to spy on).
窥 or something close to it
窥 (kuī) vs 望 (wàng) — use 窥 when the action implies secretive or intrusive observation, while 望 is for general looking or gazing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 窥 with similar characters like 看 (kàn) which means 'to look.' For example, saying '我在窥书' (wǒ zài kuī shū) instead of '我在看书' (wǒ zài kàn shū) which means 'I am reading a book.' Use 窥 only in contexts of secretive observation.
Write 窥
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Practice writing 窥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 窥
窥 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
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她看见在金的宾馆房间周围____探的那个人正是里卡多。
Ricardo was the one she'd seen snooping around Kim's hotel room.
Example Sentences for 窥 (4)
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Word Family of 窥
Words with 窥
What does 偷窥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 窥
While 窥 often has a negative connotation, it can be used in a neutral context when discussing curiosity or observation, particularly in literature.
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