How to Write 窥 (kuī) — Meaning “peep / spy / pry”

Imagine a person peeking through a cave opening (穴) while holding a ruler (规) to measure what they see — this captures both the hiding and the careful observation. The ruler also suggests the "rules" of secret spying.

The top part 穴 must be wide enough to cover the bottom component 规, and the 穴 radical has a dot at the top left and a hook at the bottom right. Pay special attention to the last stroke of 规 — it is a horizontal line that should not extend beyond the left side of the radical.

While all share the 穴 radical, 窑 (yáo, kiln) means a furnace or cave dwelling, 窒 (zhì, stop up) means to block or obstruct. In contrast, 窥 specifically implies looking secretly or prying into something, not a place or an action of blocking. Visually, 窥 has the 规 component while 窑 has 爫 (claw) and 缶 (jar), and 窒 has 至 (arrive).

窥 is used in formal or written contexts for spying or prying, such as 窥视 (peep at) or 偷窥 (voyeurism). It often carries a negative connotation of invading privacy, similar to English words like "peep" or "snoop." In Chinese culture, it is associated with stealthy observation, such as in detective stories or discussions about privacy rights.

Common words containing 窥 include: 窥视 (kuī shì) — peep at / spy on; 窥探 (kuī tàn) — pry into / spy on; 偷窥 (tōu kuī) — To peep / Voyeurism.