Japanese word

強盗

Pronunciation

Romajigōtō

Meaning

  • nounrobber

Example

強盗が店に入りました。gō tō ga mise ni hai ri ma shi ta

A robber entered the store.

Illustration for 強盗 (robber)

More examples

警察は強盗の逃走経路を調べています。kei satsu wa gō tō no tō sō kei ro o shira be te i ma su

The police are investigating the robber's escape route.

Core concept

The term involves depriving someone of property by force or intimidation, with the noun referring to the offender or the offense.

Common phrases

  • 強盗に入るgō tō ni hai ru

    break in to rob

  • 強盗に遭うgō tō ni a u

    be robbed

  • 強盗を働くgō tō o hatara ku

    commit robbery

Similar words

泥棒dorobō: A person who secretly or unlawfully takes property that belongs to someone else.
盗人nusubito: A person who steals from others, often in literary or traditional language.
盗賊tōzoku: A person or group that attacks and robs others, especially in a lawless setting.

Definition in Japanese

脅迫や暴力によって他人の財物を奪う者、また、その犯罪行為。kyō haku ya bō ryoku ni yo tte ta nin no zai butsu o uba u mono ma ta so no han zai kō i

Word origin

The Japanese compound 強盗 (gōtō) joins 強 (gō, "strong") with 盗 (tō, "steal"), which reflects stealing through force.

Usage tips

  • English news reports can call an act robbery even when no weapon is mentioned, because force or threat, rather than a particular weapon, defines the central idea.

Other meanings

  • muggernoun
  • robberynoun

Word lists with this word