窃
stealth, steal, secret, private, hushed
Readings
On'yomi
- セツ
Kun'yomi
- ぬす.む
- ひそ.か
Meaning
窃 centers on acting in a hidden, quiet way to avoid notice: stealing, being secretive, or keeping something private and hushed.
Most common words using 窃
- 窃盗せっとう
theft; stealing; larceny
- 剽窃ひょうせつ
plagiarism
- 窃取せっしゅ
theft; stealing; larceny
- 個人情報の窃盗こじんじょうほうのせっとう
identity theft
- 個人情報窃盗こじんじょうほうせっとう
identity theft
- 窃ちゃりせっちゃり
bicycle theft
- 窃用せつよう
using without permission; using information obtained in the course of one's duties
- 窃盗団せっとうだん
group of thieves
- 窃盗強迫せっとうきょうはく
kleptomania
- 窃盗犯せっとうはん
theft; stealing; larceny
- 窃盗狂せっとうきょう
kleptomania; kleptomaniac
- 窃盗症せっとうしょう
kleptomania
- 窃盗癖せっとうへき
kleptomania
- 窃盗罪せっとうざい
(crime of) theft; (crime of) stealing; larceny
- 窃盗行為せっとうこうい
theft; act of larceny
- 窃視せっし
peeping at (without permission)
- 窃視症せっししょう
voyeurism; scopophilia; scoptophilia
- 鼠窃そせつ
sneak-thief
Study
Etymology
窃 combines 穴 (cave, hole) with 切 (cut), suggesting the idea of cutting into a hidden place or acting stealthily. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the modern form supports the stealth meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a thief cutting 切 into a dark cave 穴 to steal something quietly. The hidden cave and the cutting action together mean stealth and secrecy.
Reading mnemonic
For セツ, imagine a thief stealing a set of jewels from a cave: set -> セツ, and the theft is done in secret.