強盗

• Reading: ごうとう
• Romaji: goutou
• Kanji breakdown: 強 (gou) — strong, forceful; 盗 (tou) — steal, rob
• Pronunciation: /ɡoː.toː/

Meaning

Robbery; burglary; robber. The act of stealing by force, or the person who commits it.

A noun that refers to both the crime and the criminal. Implies the use of force or threat, distinguishing it from 泥棒 (dorobou, thief) which may not involve violence. Common compounds include 強盗事件 (goutou jiken, robbery case) and 銀行強盗 (ginkou goutou, bank robbery).

Examples

1. 近所で強盗事件があったらしい。 Apparently there was a robbery in the neighborhood.
2. 強盗が銀行に押し入った。 A robber broke into the bank.
3. 夜道は強盗に注意したほうがいい。 You should watch out for robbers when walking at night.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, news, safety

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Composed of 強 (strong, forceful) and 盗 (steal, rob). The combination emphasizes theft carried out with force or coercion, distinguishing it from simple thievery.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal