偷偷摸摸

tōutōumōmō

adjective #8,041

Meanings

1 sneaky; stealthy; furtive
2 secretive; underhanded

Characters

to steal; secretly; stealthily

to steal; secretly (repeated for emphasis)

to touch; to grope; to feel around

to touch; to feel around (repeated for emphasis)

Stealthy + stealthy + groping + groping — doing things in a sneaky, furtive manner.

Examples

他偷偷摸摸地离开了房间。

Tā tōutōumōmō de líkāi le fángjiān.

He sneaked out of the room.

你在偷偷摸摸地干什么？

Nǐ zài tōutōumōmō de gàn shénme?

What are you doing so sneakily?

做事不要偷偷摸摸的，光明正大一点。

Zuòshì bùyào tōutōumōmō de, guāngmíngzhèngdà yīdiǎn.

Don't be so sneaky about things, be more open and upfront.

Tips

grammar

偷偷摸摸 follows the AABB reduplication pattern common in Chinese adjectives/adverbs. It can be used as an adjective (偷偷摸摸的行为, sneaky behavior) or adverb (偷偷摸摸地走, to walk sneakily).

usage

偷偷摸摸 always carries a negative connotation, implying dishonesty or guilt. The shorter form 偷偷地 (tōutōu de) is more neutral and just means 'secretly.'

Stroke Order

偷 tōu

摸 mō