How to Write 盗 (dào) — Meaning “to steal / thief / robber”

Imagine a thief (盗) sneaking up to a bowl (皿) to steal something, thinking "I'll be next (次) to take it." The image of someone waiting their turn to grab from a bowl helps link the components to stealing.

Write the top part 次 first (dot, left-falling, horizontal, left-falling, right-falling), then the bottom part 皿 (vertical, horizontal fold, vertical, vertical, horizontal). A common mistake is making the top too wide or forgetting the second left-falling stroke in 次.

盗 (dào) means to steal or a thief, while 盅 (zhōng) is a small cup or handleless cup used for drinking. 㿽 (uncommon, often a variant or archaic) is rarely used and refers to a kind of vessel. The key visual difference is the top part: 盗 has 次, 盅 has 中, and 㿽 has different components.

盗 appears in formal or legal terms like 强盗 (robber) and 盗用 (to embezzle). It is also common in warnings like 防盗 (anti-theft). Culturally, 盗 carries a strong negative connotation of unlawful taking, and is often used in crime-related news or signage.

Common words containing 盗 include: 强盗 (qiáng dào) — Robber, bandit; 盗用 (dào yòng) — to embezzle / to misappropriate / to use illegally; 防盗 (fáng dào) — Anti-theft or protection against burglary..