📖 Meaning
Literally 'to steal jade and steal fragrance,' it is a metaphor for seducing women or carrying on illicit love affairs. The phrase alludes to secretly winning a woman's affection, often by stealth and charm rather than proper courtship.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase combines two classic tales of secret romance. The famous '偷香' part comes from the Book of Jin (《晋书·贾充传》): during the Western Jin dynasty, the emperor gave rare tribute perfume to the minister Jia Chong, but Jia's daughter secretly stole it and gave it to her lover Han Shou. When Jia Chong smelled the perfume on Han Shou, the affair was exposed and he gave his daughter to Han in marriage. The '窃玉' element echoes another famous legend of clandestine courtship involving a stolen jade ornament. Together the two allusions came to signify seduction and illicit romance.
💡 Example Usage
他那窃玉偷香的勾当，终究被众人识破。
His jade-stealing, fragrance-pilfering affair was ultimately exposed by everyone.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 窃玉偷香
- Pinyin: qiè yù tōu xiāng
- Literal Translation: steal jade, steal fragrance
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4