かっぱらい

か

っ

ぱ

ら

い

Meanings

noun

pilfering; snatching; swiping

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the act of stealing something quickly and casually, often in a petty or opportunistic manner.

駅えき前まえでかっぱらいが多た発はつしている。
There have been many snatchings in front of the station.
彼かれはスリではなく、かっぱらいで捕つかまった。
He was arrested for snatching, not pickpocketing.

noun

pilferer; petty thief; bag snatcher

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a person who commits petty theft, especially bag snatching or shoplifting.

かっぱらいがバイクで逃にげた。
The bag snatcher fled on a motorcycle.
あの男おとこは常じょう習しゅうのかっぱらいだ。
That man is a habitual petty thief.

Kanji

掻scratch, rake, comb
払pay, clear out, prune

Related words

万まん引びき
万引き specifically refers to shoplifting, while かっぱらい covers a broader range of petty theft including bag snatching.
ひったくり
ひったくり is a more common and neutral term for bag snatching, while かっぱらい has a slightly rougher, more colloquial feel.

Written forms

かっぱらいUsage85%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are less common.
掻かっ払ぱらいUsage8%
Kanji form without explicit small-tsu; less common.
かっ払ぱらいUsage8%
search-only kanji form
掻かっ払ぱらい
Kanji form; the small-tsu is written explicitly.

Etymology

Derived from the verb かっぱらう (to snatch away), which is a compound of 掻き (kaki-, a prefix adding emphasis or roughness) and 払う (harau, to brush away). The exact historical development is uncertain.