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Kotomora

盗

steal, rob, pilfer

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • ぬす.む
  • ぬす.み

Meaning

盗 centers on taking something that belongs to someone else without permission: stealing, robbing, or pilfering.

Most common words using 盗

20 of 127
  • 盗むぬすむ
    N4

    to steal

  • 強盗ごうとう
    N3

    robber; mugger

  • 窃盗せっとう

    theft; stealing; larceny

  • 盗難とうなん
    N2

    theft; robbery

  • 盗聴とうちょう

    interception (email); wiretap; bug

  • 怪盗かいとう

    mysterious thief; phantom thief

  • 盗るとる

    to steal

  • 盗みぬすみ
    N1

    stealing; theft

  • 盗賊とうぞく

    thief; robber; burglar; bandit

  • 盗塁とうるい

    base stealing; steal; stolen base

  • 盗人ぬすびと

    thief; robber

  • 盗用とうよう

    embezzlement; fraudulent use; plagiarism; appropriation

  • 盗作とうさく

    plagiarism; plagiarised work

  • 盗品とうひん

    stolen goods; stolen article; loot; spoils

  • 盗み見ぬすみみ

    surreptitious glance; looking furtively

  • 盗掘とうくつ

    illegal digging; illegal mining; grave robbing; tomb robbing

  • 盗み出すぬすみだす

    to steal (from a person)

  • 盗み聞きぬすみぎき

    eavesdropping; tapping

  • 盗人ぬすっと

    thief; robber

  • 盗み食いぬすみぐい

    sneaking a bite

Explore all words using 盗 →

Study

Etymology

盗 is the modern simplified form of 盜. The older form combines 氵 (water) with 皿 (dish) and 欠 (open mouth), suggesting someone drooling over a dish and taking it. The modern form drops the water component, leaving 次 over 皿.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 次 suggests a person with an open mouth, and the bottom 皿 is a dish. Imagine someone eyeing a dish greedily and then stealing it.

Reading mnemonic

For トウ, imagine a thief stealing a toe ring from a dish: toe -> トウ, and the dish 皿 is right there.