Translation guide
The act of taking something without permission. Japanese has many words for stealing, depending on the context, method, and severity.
The broad act of stealing something, often used in everyday conversation or news.
The most common verb for 'to steal'. Can be used for physical objects, ideas, or even hearts.
He stole money from the store.
Someone stole my bicycle.
Formal or legal term for theft. Often used in news reports or legal contexts.
He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
Noun form of 盗む, meaning 'theft' or 'stealing'. Can be used in compounds.
Stealing is a crime.
Stealing goods from a store.
Stealing by illegally entering a building, especially at night.
Stealing from a person's pocket or bag in a public place.
Pickpocketing or a pickpocket. Often used as a noun.
I had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket on the train.
Stealing money entrusted to one's care, often in a business setting.
Embezzlement. Used for misappropriation of funds by someone in a position of trust.
He embezzled company funds.
Stealing someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property.
Metaphorical stealing, like stealing a look or stealing the show.
While 盗む can technically be used for shoplifting, 万引き is the specific and natural term. Using 盗む might sound too broad or formal in that context.
空き巣 targets empty houses, while 強盗 involves confronting victims, often with violence. 強盗 is more serious and can refer to robbery in general.
She was caught shoplifting.
銀行強盗が発生した。
A bank robbery occurred.