窃钩者诛,窃国者侯 qiè gōu zhě zhū , qiè guó zhě hóu

small thieves are killed, big thieves rule

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. steal a hook and they hang you, steal the whole country and they make you a prince (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi zhuāng zǐ)

Characters

Character Meaning
to steal; secretly; (humble) I
hook; to hook; check mark or tick
(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ...
to punish; to put (a criminal) to death
to steal; secretly; (humble) I
country; nation; state
(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ...
surname Hou; nobleman or high official