间谍
jiàndié
The Chinese word for spy is 间谍 (jiàndié).
间谍 is most commonly used when discussing political, military or international espionage.
Meaning: person who secretly watches (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 间谍 is composed of 间 (jiān), meaning 'between' or 'gap' and 谍 (dié), meaning 'spy' or 'intelligence'.
Which one should you use?
While 间谍 specifically refers to a spy or someone performing espionage, 特工 (tègōng) is a more neutral term used for a secret agent or intelligence officer.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
jiàndié
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word 内鬼 (nèiguǐ), which literally translates to 'inside ghost', is used to describe a spy or a mole within an organization.
- In ancient Chinese military strategy, the art of espionage was divided into five different types of spies, a system detailed in the 'Art of War' by Sun Tzu.
- The character 谍 contains the radical for 'speech', suggesting that the act of spying is fundamentally rooted in the collection and transmission of spoken information.
Examples in context
- 他相信我们中间有间谍。He believes there is a spy among us.This sentence is useful for showing how to express the idea of a spy being present among a group using 间谍.Tatoeba #1454465 by sadhen, translation #7790235 by sharris123
- 人们怀疑他是间谍。He was under suspicion of being a spy.This sentence is useful for expressing suspicion about someone being a 间谍.Tatoeba #1371220 by vicch, translation #290311 by al_ex_an_der
- 这个间谍已经被抓住了。Zhège jiàndié yǐjīng bèi zhuā zhù le.This spy has already been caught.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a movie about secret agents.
- 梓涵 Zihan这部电影的男主角是个间谍。Zhè bù diànyǐng de nán zhǔjué shì gè jiàndié.The male lead in this movie is a spy.
- 志强 Zhiqiang他的伪装非常完美。Tā de wěizhuāng fēicháng wánměi.His disguise is perfect.
- 梓涵 Zihan你觉得在现实中真的有间谍吗？Nǐ juéde zài xiànshí zhōng zhēnde yǒu jiàndié ma?Do you think there are actually spies in real life?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我想应该是有的。Wǒ xiǎng yīnggāi shì yǒu de.I think there probably are.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
