偷偷

tōutōu

adverb HSK 5 #3,147

Meanings

Reduplication of 偷 intensifies the sense of secrecy

HSK 3

他偷偷地离开了房间。

Tā tōutōu de líkāi le fángjiān.

He secretly left the room.

HSK 3

她偷偷地笑了。

Tā tōutōu de xiào le.

She laughed secretly.

HSK 5

孩子偷偷吃了蛋糕。

Háizi tōutōu chī le dàngāo.

The child secretly ate the cake.

grammar

偷偷 is typically followed by 地 (de) before a verb: 偷偷地 + verb. The 地 can be dropped in casual speech.

usage

偷偷摸摸 (tōutōu mōmō) is a four-character idiom meaning 'sneaky/furtive' and is more emphatic than 偷偷.

偷 tōu