偷偷

• Pinyin: tōu tōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 偷 = 亻(person) + 俞 (phonetic), to steal/secretly. Reduplicated for emphasis.

Meaning

Secretly; stealthily; on the sly; without others knowing.

An adverb indicating that an action is done secretly or without drawing attention. Often has a slightly playful or mischievous connotation, though can also describe genuinely secretive behavior. Commonly used in everyday speech for minor secret actions. Reduplication of 偷 intensifies the meaning.

Examples

1. 孩子们偷偷吃了冰箱里的蛋糕，以为妈妈不会发现。 The kids secretly ate the cake in the fridge, thinking Mom wouldn't find out.
2. 他偷偷喜欢班上的一个女生，但从来不敢表白。 He secretly likes a girl in his class but never dares to confess.
3. 开会的时候她偷偷看了一眼手机。 During the meeting, she sneakily glanced at her phone.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, casual, narrative

Tone: playful

Do Say

• 偷偷告诉你一个秘密。(Let me secretly tell you a secret.)
• 他偷偷笑了。(He secretly smiled.)

Don't Say

• 偷偷犯罪 for serious crimes — 偷偷 has a lighter connotation; use 秘密 or 暗中 for serious secretive actions

Origin & History

Reduplication of 偷 (to steal/secretly), intensifying the meaning of doing something in secret.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal