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verb HSK 5
Traditional 竊聽
qiè tīng
to eavesdrop · to wiretap · to bug (secretly listen)

Meaning

窃听 means to secretly listen to someone's private conversations without their knowledge or permission. It can refer to physical eavesdropping or using electronic devices to intercept communications. This term is commonly used in contexts involving espionage, surveillance, privacy violations, or detective work.

Usage

窃听 is primarily used in formal or serious contexts, such as news reports, legal discussions, spy novels, or crime dramas. It implies an illegal or unethical action. Native speakers often pair it with 器 (device) to form 窃听器 (bug/listening device). The word carries negative connotations and is not used casually.

Examples

  1. 01
    警方发现了他房间里的窃听器。
    Jǐng fāng fā xiàn le tā fáng jiān lǐ de qiè tīng qì.
    The police discovered a listening device in his room.
  2. 02
    窃听他人通话是违法行为。
    Qiè tīng tā rén tōng huà shì wéi fǎ xíng wéi.
    Wiretapping other people's calls is illegal.

Characters

Measure words

  • 次cì一次窃听事件

Common collocations

  • 窃听器
    qiè tīng qì
    listening device, bug
  • 窃听电话
    qiè tīng diàn huà
    to wiretap a phone
  • 非法窃听
    fēi fǎ qiè tīng
    illegal wiretapping
  • 窃听丑闻
    qiè tīng chǒu wén
    wiretapping scandal

Origin

窃 originally meant 'to steal' and appears in classical texts meaning 'secretly' or 'to usurp.' Combined with 听 (to listen), the compound literally means 'to steal listening' or 'to listen secretly.'

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