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.
彼は店からお金を盗んだ。
He stole money from the store.
誰かが私の自転車を盗んだ。
Someone stole my bicycle.
Formal or legal term for theft. Often used in news reports or legal contexts.
彼は窃盗の容疑で逮捕された。
He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
Noun form of 盗む, meaning 'theft' or 'stealing'. Can be used in compounds.
盗みは犯罪です。
Stealing is a crime.
Stealing goods from a store.
Specifically refers to shoplifting. Very common term.
万引きは犯罪です。
Shoplifting is a crime.
彼女は万引きで捕まった。
She was caught shoplifting.
Verb form: to shoplift.
あの店で万引きするのはやめなさい。
Stop shoplifting at that store.
Stealing by illegally entering a building, especially at night.
Burglary of an unoccupied house. Very common in crime reports.
空き巣に注意してください。
Please be careful of burglars.
Robbery or burglary, often involving force or threat. More serious than 空き巣.
Stealing from a person's pocket or bag in a public place.
Pickpocketing or a pickpocket. Often used as a noun.
電車ですりに財布を盗まれた。
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.
彼は会社の金を横領した。
He embezzled company funds.
Stealing someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property.
Plagiarism. Specifically for stealing written works, music, etc.
彼の論文は盗作だった。
His thesis was plagiarism.
To steal an idea. Common phrase.
彼は私のアイデアを盗んだ。
He stole my idea.
Metaphorical stealing, like stealing a look or stealing the show.
To do something without being noticed, literally 'steal one's eyes'. Often used as '目を盗んで'.
親の目を盗んでゲームをした。
I played games without my parents noticing.
To steal someone's heart; to captivate.
彼女は彼の心を盗んだ。
She stole his heart.
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.
銀行強盗が発生した。
A bank robbery occurred.