TSUMUGU · TOCFL C1 (est.) · 字
竊
ㄑㄧㄝˋ · qiè
verb — to steal; secretly, on the sly
字源 FORM — what the parts do
A hole (穴) and grain (米) — someone slipping in through a gap to carry off the rice. From the secret taking comes both the act, 竊盜, and the manner, doing a thing 竊竊 in private.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
穴（穴）口鑽進一個人，懷裡揣著偷來的米（米）。
Someone slips through the gap (穴), the stolen grain (米) clutched to the chest.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)竊— to steal常用
→竊賊、竊盜— a thief; theft
⇒竊位、竊竊— to usurp; (to do) secretly, on the sly
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension