盗贼 (dàozéi): robber

Measure Word

一个盗贼 gè

盗贼趁夜晚潜入了房子。

Dàozéi chèn yèwǎn qiánrù le fángzi.

The thieves snuck into the house at night.

警察抓住了那个盗贼。

Jǐngchá zhuāzhù le nàge dàozéi.

The police caught the thief.

usage

盗贼 is more literary/formal than 小偷 (xiǎotōu, thief). It often appears in historical or dramatic contexts.

盗 dào

贼 zéi