(jiàn dié) - spy, secret agent in Mandarin
jiàndiéTraditional: 間諜
Translation
spy, secret agent
Word origin
From 间 (jiàn, to come between, to sow division) and 谍 (dié, to spy on, a secret report). The word is attested in classical military writing.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 间 (jiàn, to come between) + 谍 (dié, to spy on)
Stroke order
间
谍
Examples
。
He was taken for a spy.
。
This film tells the story of a spy.
，。
During the war both sides sent out spies.
。
The police caught a spy.
。
Nobody knew she was a spy.
间谍 (jiàn dié) is the neutral, official word for a spy: the one in the news report, the court case, the war film. It names the person, never the act.
The reading of the first character is the trap. 间 is jiān in the everyday words you meet first, 时间 and 房间, but here it is jiàn in fourth tone, carrying its other sense of driving a wedge between people. Say jiān dié and you will be understood, but you will be wrong.
For the spying itself use 从事间谍活动 or plain 偷偷调查. And note 特工, which is closer to secret agent and sounds rather more glamorous, while 间谍 is what the other side has.
Where this fits
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间谍: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "间谍" (spy, secret agent): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 51.