小偷小摸

xiǎotōuxiǎomō

idiom #19,433

Meanings

1 to engage in petty theft
2 pilfering

Characters

to touch; to pilfer

Examples

他年轻时经常小偷小摸，后来改过自新了。

Tā niánqīng shí jīngcháng xiǎotōuxiǎomō, hòulái gǎiguòzìxīn le.

He used to pilfer when he was young, but later turned over a new leaf.

虽然只是小偷小摸，但也是违法行为。

Suīrán zhǐ shì xiǎotōuxiǎomō, dàn yě shì wéifǎ xíngwéi.

Even though it's just petty theft, it's still illegal.

Tips

memory

小偷 (petty thief) + 小摸 (small pilfering) — the doubling of 小 emphasizes how minor and sneaky the theft is. It's stealing small things, not grand larceny.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

偷 tōu

摸 mō