窺

Seeing from a position of cover or through a narrow aperture; observing while remaining hidden or glimpsing something partially obscured. This includes:

• Physical/Strategic: Peeping, prying, spying, and military reconnaissance (specifically seeking vulnerabilities or gaps in defenses).
• Intellectual/Metaphorical: Probing, discerning, or catching a glimpse of a mystery or secret truth (e.g., 窺道, "glimpsing the Way").

Primarily a transitive verb. Frequently paired with 伺 (sì, to lie in wait) to describe a state of predatory or anxious anticipation ("watching and waiting").

Unlike 視 (shì, general seeing/looking) or 觀 (guān, broad observation/contemplation), 窺 denotes narrow, focused vision. It typically implies an imbalance of power where the observer is concealed and the observed is exposed.

Simplified variant: U+7AA5.

The choice between "spying," "probing," and "glimpsing" depends on register: military or political texts generally lean toward reconnaissance and stealth, while philosophical texts lean toward discernment and intellectual discovery.