Japanese word

万引き

Pronunciation

Romajimanbiki

Meaning

  • nounshoplifting

Example

店で万引きをしてはいけません。mise de man bi ki o shi te wa i ke ma se n

You must not shoplift in a store.

Illustration for 万引き (shoplifting)

More examples

この店では、万引きが大きな問題になっています。ko no mise de wa man bi ki ga ō ki na mon dai ni na tte i ma su

Shoplifting has become a major problem in this store.

Core concept

Covers both the act of taking goods from a store without paying and the person who commits that act.

Common phrases

  • 万引きをするman bi ki o su ru

    shoplift

  • 万引きを防ぐman bi ki o fuse gu

    prevent shoplifting

  • 万引き対策man bi ki tai saku

    anti-shoplifting measures

Similar words

盗みnusumi: The act of dishonestly taking something that belongs to another person.
窃盗settō: The unlawful taking of another person's property without consent.

Definition in Japanese

店頭の商品を、店員に気づかれないように代金を払わず持ち去る行為。また、その行為をする人。ten tō no shō hin o ten in ni ki zu ka re na i yō ni dai kin o hara wa zu mo chi sa ru kō i ma ta so no kō i o su ru hito

Word origin

The source of 万引き (manbiki) is not certain; the written form combines 万 (man, "ten thousand") with 引き (biki, "taking"), but this spelling does not reveal the word's meaning.

Usage tips

  • The English word shoplifting uses lifting in the sense of stealing, so it refers to taking merchandise rather than raising it.

Other meanings

  • shoplifternoun

Related words

  • 万引き犯manbikihanshoplifternoun

Word lists with this word