Word data
HSK
Not in HSK
FREQUENCY
Unknown
竊鉤者誅，竊國者侯 qiè gōu zhě zhū ， qiè guó zhě hóu
small thief punished, big thief rewarded
Word data
| HSK | Not in HSK |
| Frequency | Unknown |
Definitions
- 1. steal a hook and they hang you, steal the whole country and they make you a prince (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 庄子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
|