万引き

• Reading: まんびき
• Romaji: manbiki
• Kanji breakdown: 万 (man) — ten thousand, all | 引き (biki) — pulling, drawing
• Pronunciation: /man.bi.ki/

Meaning

Shoplifting; the act of stealing merchandise from a retail store without paying.

A common and serious social problem in Japan, 万引き is treated as theft (窃盗) under the Penal Code. Retail stores employ loss-prevention staff (保安員) and surveillance systems to deter it. Juveniles caught shoplifting are typically referred to family court rather than prosecuted. The compound is also used attributively: 万引き犯 (shoplifter), 万引きGメン (store detective).

Examples

1. その少年は万引きを繰り返し、ついに警察に通報された。 The boy repeatedly shoplifted and was eventually reported to the police.
2. 万引き防止のため、店内には複数の防犯カメラが設置されている。 Multiple security cameras are installed throughout the store to prevent shoplifting.
3. 万引きは軽い気持ちでやっても立派な犯罪だと先生は強調した。 The teacher emphasised that shoplifting is a serious crime even if done on a whim.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, retail, law enforcement, juvenile justice

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The exact etymology is uncertain, but one theory suggests 万 (many/all) combined with 引き (pulling, drawing out), implying taking goods en masse. The word has been in common use since at least the Meiji era.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal