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窃国者侯,窃钩者诛
竊國者侯,竊鉤者誅
qièguózhěhóu,qiègōuzhězhū
1. steal the whole country and they make you a prince, steal a hook and they hang you (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi [[莊子|庄子]])

Character Breakdown

窃
qiè
to steal; thief; secret, stealthy
HSK 6 9 丶
国
guó
country, nation, state; national
HSK 1 8 丶
者
zhě
that which; they who; those who
HSK 3 8 丶
侯
hóu
marquis, lord; target in archery
9 丶
窃
qiè
to steal; thief; secret, stealthy
HSK 6 9 丶
钩
gōu
hook, barb, sickle; to hook, to link
HSK 6 9 丶
者
zhě
that which; they who; those who
HSK 3 8 丶
诛
zhū
to execute, to kill; to punish
8 丶

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