evil thief; wicked robber
Obsolete term for a villainous thief or robber; not used in modern Japanese. Found only in historical or literary contexts.
In old documents, expressions like 'capture the wicked robber' can be found.
Obsolete kanji spelling; 奸 carries a nuance of wickedness or cunning.
Variant spelling using 姦, also obsolete.
Compound of 奸 (wicked, cunning) and 盗 (thief, steal). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is obsolete.