盗
steal, rob, pilfer
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
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.