偷鸡摸狗

偷雞摸狗
tōujī-mōgǒu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to steal chickens and grope for dogs
  2. 2 petty thievery
  3. 3 shady, underhanded behavior (including illicit affairs)

Examples

HSK 3
Bié zài bèihòu tōujī-mōgǒu, zhèngdà-guāngmíng de zuòshì.
Don't sneak around behind people's backs. Do things openly and honorably.
HSK 4
Tā yǐjīng gǎiguò-zìxīn, bù zài tōujī-mōgǒu le.
He's turned over a new leaf and given up his shady ways.
HSK 6
Nà bāng xiǎohùnhun zhěngtiān tōujī-mōgǒu.
That gang of hoodlums is always up to petty thievery.

Tips

usage
Covers both petty theft and sneaky misconduct including illicit affairs (hinted at in 《红楼梦》 第四十四回 usage). Strongly negative, informal.

Stroke Order

tōu
gǒu