Onyomi: トウ · Kunyomi: ぬす.み, ぬす.む · Meanings: pilfer, rob, steal
Kanji for pilfer, rob, steal
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The kanji 盗 is made from two parts: 亠 (lid or top) on the top and 貝 (shell/money) underneath. The lid shows something hidden or covered, while 貝 represents valuables or money. Together, it creates the image of someone secretly taking valuable things — a thief stealing treasures. Over time, 盗 came to mean “to steal,” “thief,” or “robbery.”
Made from 亠(lid) and 貝(shell/money). It shows something valuable hidden under a lid being taken — meaning to steal or thief.
This kanji says: under the lid (亠), the treasures (貝) are taken secretly — 盗 means to steal. Remember it by picturing a thief quietly lifting valuables from a covered box.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 盗む | ぬすむ | to steal | common JLPT-N4 Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Transitive verb |
| 盗難 | とうなん | theft, robbery | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 盗み | ぬすみ | stealing, theft | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 盗賊 | とうぞく | thief, robber, burglar, bandit | common Noun |
| 盗塁 | とうるい | base stealing, steal, stolen base | common Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 盗聴 | とうちょう | interception (email), wiretap, bug | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 盗品 | とうひん | stolen goods, stolen article, loot, spoils | Noun |
| 盗聴器 | とうちょうき | listening device, bug, wiretap | Noun |
| 盗撮 | とうさつ | sneak photography, non-consensual photography, peeping photos, covert filming | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 盗み食い | ぬすみぐい | sneaking a bite | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 寝汗 | ねあせ | perspiration given off during sleep, sweating while sleeping, night sweats | Noun |
| 盗み見る | ぬすみみる | to steal a glance (at), to look furtively (at), to take a peek (at) | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 盗人 | ぬすびと | thief, robber | Noun |
| 盗作 | とうさく | plagiarism, plagiarised work | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 盗用 | とうよう | embezzlement, fraudulent use, plagiarism, appropriation | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |