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

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

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
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