Meaning
The kanji 盗 (tō) primarily means 'to steal,' 'to rob,' or 'to pilfer.' It describes the act of unlawfully taking something that belongs to another person, whether covertly or by force. This kanji is essential for discussing property-related crimes and illicit acquisition in Japanese.
Its visual form offers a fascinating glimpse into its origins. The character 盗 is a simplified version of the older, more complex 盜. The modern 盗 is composed of two main elements: 次 (tsugi), meaning 'next' or 'secondary,' and 皿 (sara), meaning 'dish' or 'plate.' While 次 often means 'next' or 'order' on its own, in this context, it likely contributes a phonetic element. It could also suggest 'taking out of turn' or 'taking what's not one's primary possession.' The 皿 component is often associated with containers, food, or valuables, and its presence can symbolize the item being taken. Thus, you might imagine 'taking something from the next dish' or 'taking something secondary (not yours) from a dish (possessions),' metaphorically representing the act of stealing.
This 11-stroke kanji is designated as a Grade 8 Jōyō kanji. This means it's taught in Japanese junior high school and is considered essential for daily use. It's also a core kanji for the JLPT N2 level, reflecting its importance for understanding more advanced Japanese vocabulary and news articles.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 盗 is トウ. This reading is typically used when 盗 appears as part of a compound word. You'll often find it in more formal or technical terms related to theft, crime, or unlawful actions. When combined with other kanji, it often conveys a more abstract or general sense of 'theft.'
- 盗難 (tōnan) — theft, robbery, stolen goods. This term is frequently used when reporting or discussing incidents of theft. For instance, you might hear 「自転車盗難」 (jitensha tōnan) for 'bicycle theft.'
- 窃盗 (settō) — theft, larceny. This is a more formal and legal term for theft. It's often used in police reports or legal documents to denote the crime itself, as opposed to the general act of stealing.
- 盗作 (tōsaku) — plagiarism. Here, 盗 takes on a figurative meaning of 'stealing' intellectual property or creative work, like copying someone's novel.
- 強盗 (gōtō) — robbery, robber. This compound specifically refers to theft committed with force or the threat of violence.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The main Kun'yomi (native Japanese readings) for 盗 are ぬす.む (nusu.mu) and ぬす.まれる (nusu.mareru). These readings are used for verb forms and directly convey the action of stealing in everyday speech.
- 盗む (nusumu) — to steal, to pilfer. This transitive verb describes the act of taking something. For example, 「財布を盗む」 (saifu wo nusumu) means 'to steal a wallet.' It can also be used figuratively, such as 「時間を盗む」 (jikan wo nusumu - to steal time, meaning to snatch some free time).
- 盗み見る (nusumimiru) — to steal a glance, to peek. This compound highlights the stealthy nature often associated with the act of looking.
- 盗み聞き (nusumigiki) — eavesdropping, secretly listening. Another common compound emphasizing covert action, like listening in on a private conversation.
- 盗まれる (nusumareru) — to be stolen. This is the passive form of ぬすむ, indicating that an object has been taken by someone else. For example, 「自転車が盗まれた」 (jitensha ga nusumareta) means 'a bicycle was stolen.'
Common Words & Compounds
This section presents a variety of words and compounds using the kanji 盗. These categories will help you grasp their nuances and contexts more easily.
Crimes and Perpetrators
- 強盗 (gōtō) — robbery; a robber. This refers to theft committed with violence or intimidation, often involving a weapon.
- 窃盗 (settō) — theft; larceny. A formal, legal term for the act of stealing without violence.
- 盗賊 (tōzoku) — a thief, robber, or bandit. This term is often encountered in historical contexts, adventure stories, or fantasy settings.
- 盗人 (nusutto) — thief, burglar. A more common, colloquial, and somewhat old-fashioned term for a thief.
- 盗品 (tōhin) — stolen goods. These are items that have been unlawfully acquired.
Actions of Theft and Unlawful Acquisition
- 盗撮 (tōsatsu) — secret filming or photography; voyeurism. This is the act of secretly taking pictures or videos without consent, often illegally.
- 盗聴 (tōchō) — wiretapping; eavesdropping. This refers to the act of secretly listening to private conversations, for example, by tapping a phone line.
- 盗用 (tōyō) — plagiarism; misappropriation. This involves using someone else's work, ideas, or even funds as one's own without permission.
- 盗難 (tōnan) — theft, robbery. This term often appears in phrases like 「盗難に遭う」 (tōnan ni au), meaning 'to suffer a theft.'
Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions
- 盗み聞き (nusumigiki) — eavesdropping. To secretly listen in on a conversation, often out of curiosity or suspicion.
- 盗み見 (nusumimi) — peeking; stealing a glance. To look at something secretly or quickly without being noticed.
- 時を盗む (toki wo nusumu) — to steal time; to snatch some free time. This expression is used when you manage to find a moment for yourself out of a busy schedule.
- 心を盗む (kokoro wo nusumu) — to steal someone's heart. A romantic or metaphorical expression, meaning to charm or captivate someone.
Example Sentences
彼は誰かの財布を盗もうとした。
Kare wa dareka no saifu wo nusumō to shita.
He tried to steal someone's wallet.
私の自転車が駅前で盗まれてしまいました。
Watashi no jitensha ga ekimae de nusumarete shimaimashita.
My bicycle was stolen in front of the station.
昨晩、近所で強盗が発生したそうです。
Sakuban, kinjo de gōtō ga hassei shita sō desu.
I heard a robbery occurred in the neighborhood last night.
彼女は彼の心を盗んで、遠くへ行ってしまった。
Kanojo wa kare no kokoro wo nusunde, tōku e itte shimatta.
She stole his heart and went far away.
美術館から貴重な美術品が盗まれ、警察が捜査している。
Bijutsukan kara kichō na bijutsukin ga nusumare, keisatsu ga sōsa shite iru.
A valuable art piece was stolen from the museum, and the police are investigating.
会議中に彼は誰も気付かないように盗み見をした。
Kaigichū ni kare wa daremo kizukanai yō ni nusumimi wo shita.
During the meeting, he stole a glance so that no one would notice.
著作権を侵害する盗作は厳しく罰せられます。
Chosakuken wo shingai suru tōsaku wa kibishiku basseraremasu.
Plagiarism that infringes on copyright will be severely punished.
情報を盗聴する行為は法に触れます。
Jōhō wo tōchō suru kōi wa hō ni furemasu.
The act of wiretapping information is illegal.
最近、家の前で盗難が多発しているので、戸締りをしっかりしてください。
Saikin, ie no mae de tōnan ga tahatsu shite iru node, tojimari wo shikkari shite kudasai.
Recently, there have been many thefts in front of houses, so please lock up properly.
忙しい毎日の中で、少しでも自分の時間を盗んで趣味を楽しんでいます。
Isogashii mainichi no naka de, sukoshi demo jibun no jikan wo nusunde shumi wo tanoshinde imasu.
Amidst a busy daily life, I make sure to steal a little time for myself to enjoy my hobbies.
Memory Tip
To remember 盗, break it down into its components: 次 (next) and 皿 (dish/plate). Picture yourself at a potluck dinner, eyeing a delicious dish. You're waiting for your turn, but suddenly, someone reaches over and takes a portion from the "next" "dish" before you! They've essentially "stolen" from what was supposed to be available for others. So, think: 'next' (次) + 'dish' (皿) = 'stealing' (盗). Alternatively, imagine a sneaky person (次) snatching a valuable item from a decorative plate (皿), clearly "stealing" it.