偷渡

tōudù

verb #13,328

Meanings

1 to illegally immigrate
2 to stow away (on a ship)
3 to steal across the border
4 to run a blockade

Characters

to steal; secretly

to cross (water/border)

Examples

HSK 3

偷渡客被边防警察抓住了。

Tōudù kè bèi biānfáng jǐngchá zhuāzhù le.

The illegal immigrants were caught by the border police.

HSK 5

每年都有人试图偷渡到其他国家。

Měinián dōu yǒurén shìtú tōudù dào qítā guójiā.

Every year people try to illegally cross into other countries.

Tips

memory

偷 (to steal) + 渡 (to cross water/border) = to 'steal a crossing,' i.e. to cross a border illegally.

Stroke Order

偷 tōu

渡 dù