賊

The glyph encompasses two primary semantic fields based on reading:

// Reading //zéi*: Theft, robbery, and illicit acquisition.

// Reading //dí*: Treason, rebellion, or a state-level enemy/adversary.

• Noun: The agent (thief, traitor, enemy).
• Verb: Typically means "to harm," "to injure," "to plunder," or "to damage."

// 賊 (//zéi//) vs. 賊 (//dí//): Generally distinguishes between criminal activity (//zéi//) and political or military insurgency (//dí*), though early texts may show overlap (e.g., a traitor "stealing" the mandate).

// 賊 (//zéi//) vs. 盜 (//dào*): While 盜 typically refers to the act of stealing or taking an object by stealth, 賊 carries stronger connotations of malice, violence, and systemic disruption of the social order.

When this glyph functions as a verb acting upon an object, prioritize "harm" or "damage" over "theft."