snatch a moment of leisure; loaf
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to steal a moment of leisure; to snatch spare time from a busy schedule
Commonly used in the fixed expression 忙里偷闲 (to find time amidst busy schedule).
Máng忙
lǐ里
tōu偷
xián闲
，
hē喝
bēi杯
kā咖
fēi啡
fàng放
sōng松
yī一
xià下
。
She snatched a moment from her busy schedule to drink a cup of coffee and relax.
Tā他
měi每
tiān天
gōng工
zuò作
hěn很
máng忙
，
zhǐ只
néng能
tōu偷
xián闲
kàn看
jǐ几
yè页
shū书
。
He is busy with work every day and can only steal a few moments to read a few pages.
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Zhōu周
mò末
wǒ我
xiǎng想
tōu偷
ge个
xián闲
，
bù不
qù去
xiǎng想
gōng工
zuò作
de的
shì事
。
On the weekend, I want to steal some leisure time and not think about work.
verb
to loaf; to idle; to be lazy
dialectRegional or dialectal usage, implying shirking work or duties.
Nǐ你
bié别
zhěng整
tiān天
tōu偷
xián闲
，
kuài快
bǎ把
huó活
er儿
gàn干
wán完
。
Don't loaf around all day; hurry up and finish the work.
Zhè这
rén人
zuì最
ài爱
tōu偷
xián闲
，
yī一
diǎn点
er儿
bù不
kěn肯
chū出
lì力
。
This person loves to idle the most and isn't willing to put in any effort at all.