petty theft; furtive activities
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
petty theft; furtive and dishonorable activities
derogatoryOriginating from the *Shiji* (Records of the Grand Historian) in the biography of Liu Jing and Shu Sun Tong: "This is merely the thievery of rats and dogs, not worth mentioning." Also expressed as 鼠窃狗偷.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
shǔ鼠
qiè窃
gǒu狗
dào盗
de的
xíng行
wéi为
，
zhōng终
jiū究
táo逃
bù不
guò过
fǎ法
lǜ律
de的
zhì制
cái裁
。
Such furtive and dishonorable activities will ultimately not escape legal punishment.
Tā他
cóng从
bù不
xiè屑
yú于
zuò做
nà那
xiē些
shǔ鼠
qiè窃
gǒu狗
dào盗
de的
gōu勾
dàng当
。
He has always disdained engaging in such petty thievery.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shū书
shàng上
shuō说
，
zhè这
xiē些
bù不
guò过
shì是
shǔ鼠
qiè窃
gǒu狗
dào盗
zhī之
bèi辈
，
bù不
zú足
wéi为
lǜ虑
。
The history books say that these were merely petty thieves, not worth worrying about.