竊國者侯，竊鉤者誅 qiè guó zhě hóu ， qiè gōu zhě zhū

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

竊 qiè secretly, stealthily; steal; thief
國 guó nation, country, nation-state
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
侯 hóu marquis, lord; target in archery
竊 qiè secretly, stealthily; steal; thief
鉤 gōu hook, barb; sickle; stroke with
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
誅 zhū execute, kill, put to death; punish