Translation guide
To steal small items or small amounts, often casually or repeatedly. In Japanese, the most natural expressions depend on the nuance: casual taking, shoplifting, or sneaky theft.
To take small things without permission, often in a petty or habitual way.
General verb for 'steal'. Works for pilfering when the object is small, but it's a broad term.
He often pilfers office supplies from the company.
Colloquial verb for sneaking or filching small items. Perfect for casual pilfering.
Someone pilfered my pen.
Euphemistic, often jokingly used for 'borrowing' without permission. Implies a light, petty theft.
I'll just pilfer that chocolate, if you don't mind.
Slang for swiping or filching, often used for small thefts or embezzlement. Very casual.
pilfer the sales proceeds
To steal goods from a store, typically small or inexpensive items.
To gradually steal small quantities, often from a larger supply (e.g., money, food).
盗む is the general 'steal'. くすねる is casual and specifically for small, sneaky thefts. 万引きする is exclusively for shoplifting. Use くすねる for pilfering among friends or in informal settings.
He's always pilfering other people's stuff.
English 'pilfer' often implies petty theft. Direct translations like 小盗みする are not natural. Use the options above depending on context.
店から小さな商品を盗む
pilfer small items from a store
It was discovered that he had been pilfering expenses.