chuānyú

穿窬

Word · VerbTraditional穿逾

to drill holes and climb walls; to commit burglary

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 3 examples
1.

verb

to drill holes and climb over walls

literary

Originally describes actions like a thief breaking in. Used almost exclusively in classical or literary Chinese.

Cǐ此
děng等
chuān穿
yú逾
zhī之
bèi辈
 ，
qǐ岂
kě可
xìn信
rèn任
 ？

How can we trust such people who would drill holes and climb walls?

Gǔ古
dài代
dào盗
zéi贼
cháng常
xíng行
chuān穿
yú逾
zhī之
shì事
 。

Thieves in ancient times often committed burglary by drilling and climbing.

2.

verb

to commit theft; to burgle

literary

Specifically refers to theft involving breaking and entering. The term '穿逾之辈' is a set phrase meaning thieves.

Tā他
lún沦
wéi为
chuān穿
yú逾
zhī之
bèi辈
 ，
zhuān专
sī司
yè夜
dào盗
 。

He became a thief, specializing in nighttime burglary.