窃盗

• 読み: せっとう
• ローマ字: settō
• 漢字の分解: 窃 (setsu/nusumu) — to steal secretly; 盗 (tō/nusumu) — to steal, rob
• 発音: /seɕ.toː/

意味

Theft; larceny; stealing. The criminal act of taking another's property without consent and with intent to deprive.

The primary term for theft in Japanese criminal law (刑法 235 条). Distinct from 強盗 (robbery with force) and 詐欺 (fraud). 万引き (shoplifting) is the most common form. Recidivism rates for 窃盗 are high in Japan, making it a persistent topic in criminal justice discussions. The adjective form is 窃盗的.

例文

1. 店内での窃盗が多発しているため、警備員が増員された。
2. 彼は窃盗の容疑で現行犯逮捕された。
3. 窃盗犯の再犯防止策を強化する法改正が議論されている。

使い方ガイド

場面: law, crime, news, criminal justice

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Compound of 窃 (to steal secretly, surreptitiously) and 盗 (to steal, rob). The character 窃 carries the nuance of stealth, distinguishing theft from open robbery. Both characters have the radical 皿 or related forms associated with vessels and taking.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal