verb HSK 6
Traditional 剽竊
piāo qiè
to plagiarize · to pirate · to steal (ideas, writings)

Meaning

剽窃 means to steal someone else's intellectual work, ideas, or writings and present them as one's own. It is a formal, serious term used primarily in academic, literary, and professional contexts to describe plagiarism or intellectual theft.

Usage

This is a formal, written-register word commonly used in academic settings, journalism, and legal contexts. It carries strong negative connotations and is considered a serious offense in Chinese academic and professional culture. Native speakers typically use it when discussing academic dishonesty, copyright violations, or intellectual property theft.

Examples

  1. 01
    这位作家被指控剽窃了另一位作者的小说。
    Zhè wèi zuò jiā bèi zhǐ kòng piāo qiè le lìng wèi zuò zhě de xiǎo shuō.
    This writer was accused of plagiarizing another author's novel.
  2. 02
    学术界对剽窃行为采取零容忍的态度。
    Xué shù jiè duì piāo qiè xíng wéi cǎi líng róng rěn de tài .
    The academic community takes a zero-tolerance attitude toward plagiarism.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 剽窃作品
    piāo qiè zuò pǐn
    to plagiarize a work
  • 剽窃他人
    piāo qiè rén
    to plagiarize from others
  • 学术剽窃
    xué shù piāo qiè
    academic plagiarism
  • 被指剽窃
    bèi zhǐ piāo qiè
    to be accused of plagiarism

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters relate to theft: 剽 originally meant armed robbery or plundering, while 窃 means to steal secretly. Together they specifically denote the theft of intellectual property or creative work.

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