“Secretly” in Chinese – 偷偷 tōutōu

Grammar Point:
偷偷 tōutōu is an adverb in Chinese that means “secretly,” “stealthily,” or “quietly without being noticed.” It describes an action that is done with the intention of avoiding detection or attention.

Structure

S + 偷偷 tōutōu + (地 de) + V

In modern usage, 地 de (a particle that connects adverbs to verbs) can be omitted with 偷偷 tōutōu, especially in spoken Chinese. The meaning remains the same.

她tā偷偷地tōutōude走zǒu出chū了le房間fángjiān她tā偷偷地tōutōude走zǒu出chū了le房间fángjiān
She quietly slipped out of the room.

她tā偷偷tōutōu看kàn了le我wǒ的de手機shǒujī她tā偷偷tōutōu看kàn了le我wǒ的de手机shǒujī
She secretly looked at my phone.

我們wǒmen偷偷tōutōu溜liū出去chūqù玩wán吧ba我们wǒmen偷偷tōutōu溜liū出去chūqù玩wán吧ba
Let’s sneak out and play!

他tā偷偷地tōutōude給gěi了le我wǒ一yì張zhāng紙條zhǐtiáo他tā偷偷地tōutōude给gěi了le我wǒ一yì张zhāng纸条zhǐtiáo
He quietly slipped me a note.

你們nǐmen兩liǎng個ge人rén偷偷tōutōu在zài講jiǎng什麼shénme？ 你们nǐmen两liǎng个ge人rén偷偷tōutōu在zài讲jiǎng什么shénme？
What are you two secretly talking about?

我們wǒmen偷偷tōutōu幫bāng她tā舉辦jǔbàn一yí個ge生日shēngrì派對pàiduì， 怎麼樣zěnmeyàng？ 我们wǒmen偷偷tōutōu帮bāng她tā举办jǔbàn一yí个ge生日shēngrì派对pàiduì， 怎么样zěnmeyàng？
We’re secretly planning a surprise birthday party for her, what do you think?

你nǐ吃chī你nǐ吃chī霸王餐bàwángcān霸王餐bàwángcān嗎ma？ 沒méi付錢fùqián還hái想xiǎng偷偷tōutōu離開líkāi吗ma？ 没méi付钱fùqián还hái想xiǎng偷偷tōutōu离开líkāi
Are you dining and dashing? Trying to sneak out without paying?

Common Expressions with 偷偷 tōutōu

偷偷摸摸 tōutōu mōmō
Acting sneakily or suspiciously. Often carries a negative connotation.

他tā總是zǒngshì偷偷摸摸tōutōumōmō的de， 怪guài可疑kěyí的de他tā总是zǒngshì偷偷摸摸tōutōumōmō的de， 怪guài可疑kěyí的de
He’s always sneaky and suspicious.

我wǒ不bù想xiǎng再zài偷偷摸摸tōutōumōmō地de談戀愛tánliànài了le， 我們wǒmen公開gōngkāi吧ba！ 我wǒ不bù想xiǎng再zài偷偷摸摸tōutōumōmō地de谈恋爱tánliànài了le， 我们wǒmen公开gōngkāi吧ba！
I’m done with keeping our relationship a secret. Let’s make it public!

Difference Between 偷 tōu and 偷偷 tōutōu

偷 tōu can be a verb, meaning “to steal” or an adverb “to do something in secret.” When used to express “secretly,” it usually combines with a single-syllable verb and is followed by an object, making it more action-focused.

他tā偷tōu了le我wǒ的de手機shǒujī他tā偷tōu了le我wǒ的de手机shǒujī
He stole my phone.

他tā偷tōu看kàn了le我wǒ的de答案dáàn他tā偷tōu看kàn了le我wǒ的de答案dáàn
He secretly peeked at my answers.

這zhè隻zhī貓māo偷tōu吃chī了le魚yú这zhè只zhī猫māo偷tōu吃chī了le鱼yú
This cat secretly ate the fish.

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì偷tōu說shuō我wǒ壞話huàihuà？ 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì偷tōu说shuō我wǒ坏话huàihuà？
Did you secretly say bad things about me?

誰shéi偷tōu拿ná了le我wǒ的de筆bǐ？ 谁shéi偷tōu拿ná了le我wǒ的de笔bǐ？
Who secretly took my pen?