盗 dào — steal; thief · English

盗

dào

steal; thief

At a glance · 盗

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

繁体「盜」从㳄（涎）从皿，象垂涎他人器皿而窃，本义为偷窃。小篆作「盜」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为偷取、劫掠。

Structure

会意字，从㳄从皿，表贪羡而窃。

At a glance

Pinyindào

Radical皿

Strokes11

UnicodeU+76D7

Character type会意

Theme军事

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English steal; thief To steal; a thief or robber.

Français voler; voleur Voler ; un voleur ou brigand.

Español robar; ladrón Robar ; un ladrón o bandido.

العربية يسرق؛ لص يسرق؛ لص أو سارق.

Русский воровать; вор Воровать; вор или разбойник.

Common words

盗dàothief
强盗qiáng dàorobber

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