盗む

• Reading: ぬすむ
• Romaji: nusumu
• Kanji breakdown: 盗 (tou/nusu) — steal, rob
• Pronunciation: /nɯ.sɯ.mɯ/

Meaning

To steal; to rob. Describes taking something that belongs to someone else without permission.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with a む ending. Used for both petty theft and larger crimes. Also appears in figurative expressions such as 技を盗む (to steal techniques, meaning to learn by observing) and 目を盗む (to do something when no one is looking).

Examples

1. 財布を盗まれて警察に届けました。 My wallet was stolen, so I reported it to the police.
2. プロの技を盗むつもりでよく観察した。 I carefully observed, intending to pick up the pro's techniques.
3. 誰かが自転車を盗んだらしいです。 It seems like someone stole my bicycle.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, news, figurative speech

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 盗 combines 次 (next, covet) and 皿 (dish, vessel), evoking the image of coveting another's possessions.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal