贼

• Pinyin: zéi
• Desglose de hanzi: 贼 = 贝 (shell/wealth) + 戎 (weapon) — one who takes wealth by force

Significado

Ladrón; ratero; (hist.) traidor/rebelde.

In modern usage primarily means thief. Historically also meant traitor or rebel (叛贼, 国贼). Colloquially used as an adverb meaning 'very' in northern dialects: 贼好看 (really good-looking). Compounds: 小偷小贼 (petty thieves), 做贼心虚 (a guilty conscience).

Ejemplos

1. 警方经过数日追踪，终于将入室盗窃的贼缉拿归案。
2. 做贼心虚，他一听到警笛声就心跳加速。
3. 古语说得好，贼喊捉贼，说的就是这种人。

Guía de uso

Contexto: crime, idioms, colloquial speech

Tono: negative

Correcto

• 他发现家里被贼光顾过，立刻报了警。(He discovered his home had been visited by thieves and immediately called the police.)
• 这个贼竟然在光天化日之下行窃，胆子太大了。(This thief actually stole in broad daylight — what audacity!)

Incorrecto

• 你是贼 as a casual insult — this is a serious accusation; in casual speech use 小偷 for thief or avoid direct accusations

Origen e historia

Pictographic character showing a person (亻) with a weapon (戈), originally meaning to harm or injure

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal