Translation guide
A person who steals, especially secretly and without violence.
A person who steals things, typically without the victim noticing at the time.
The most common and general word for a thief or burglar. Can refer to the act of stealing as well.
昨夜、家に泥棒が入った。
A thief broke into my house last night.
泥棒を捕まえる。
Catch a thief.
A slightly old-fashioned or literary word for thief. Often used in proverbs or set phrases.
盗人にも三分の理。
Even a thief has his reasons. (proverb)
A legal term for a thief or larcenist. Used in news reports and formal contexts.
窃盗犯が逮捕された。
The thief was arrested.
A thief who enters a building illegally to steal.
A burglar who targets houses when the occupants are away. Very common in crime news.
空き巣に現金を盗まれた。
A burglar stole my cash.
Technically a robber (uses violence or threats), but often used loosely for a burglar in news. Be careful: it implies force.
Implies violence or threat, not just stealth.
A thief who steals from a person's clothing or bag in a public place.
A pickpocket. Often used as a noun or as part of the verb すりをする (to pickpocket).
電車で財布をすりに盗られた。
I had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket on the train.
すりに気をつけて。
Watch out for pickpockets.
A thief who steals goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer.
Shoplifting or a shoplifter. Can be used as a noun or with する (to shoplift).
万引きは犯罪です。
Shoplifting is a crime.
あの少年は万引きで捕まった。
That boy was caught shoplifting.
Used as part of a compound to specify the type of thief or theft.
泥棒 is a general thief who steals secretly. 強盗 is a robber who uses violence or threats. すり is a pickpocket who steals from your person. Use 泥棒 for most everyday thefts unless force or pickpocketing is involved.
The English loanword シーフ (thief) is not commonly used in Japanese. It may appear in video game or fantasy contexts, but in real life, use 泥棒 or the specific terms above.
The bank robber is on the run.