(zéi)

HSK 7-910 strokesTrad.

thief

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
zéi
Meaning
thief; robber; (bound form) traitor; subversive; (bound form) evil; wicked; sly; shifty; devious; (literary) to harm; to injure; (coll.) extremely; insanely; damn (common in NE China and Taiwan)
Strokes
10
HSK level
HSK 7-9
Traditional

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Phonetic-semantic compound⿰贝戎

In this compound, the meaning comes from (weapons); supplies the sound.

One part carries the meaning, the other suggests the sound.

Made of

Parts are arranged left to right.

How to write step by step

10 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

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Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

zuòzéi

to be a thief

Open 作贼 page →
fǎnzéi

(imperial China) rebel; traitor; (post-1949) enemy of the state; counter-re…

Open 反贼 page →
pànzéi

renegade; traitor

Open 叛贼 page →
zéixīn

evil intentions

Open 贼心 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 贼?

Trace 贼 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.