Japanese word

泥棒

Pronunciation

Romajidorobō

Meaning

  • nounthief

Example

警察は泥棒を捕まえました。kei satsu wa doro bō o tsuka ma e ma shi ta

The police caught the thief.

Illustration for 泥棒 (thief)

More examples

店員は防犯カメラで泥棒を確認しました。ten in wa bō han ka me ra de doro bō o kaku nin shi ma shi ta

The store clerk identified the thief using security camera footage.

Core concept

Refers to a person who unlawfully takes property that belongs to someone else.

Common phrases

  • 泥棒を捕まえるdoro bō o tsuka ma e ru

    catch a thief

  • 泥棒を追いかけるdoro bō o o i ka ke ru

    chase a thief

  • 泥棒を見つけるdoro bō o mi tsu ke ru

    find a thief

Similar words

空き巣akisu: A person who enters an unoccupied home to steal property.

Definition in Japanese

他人の物を許可なく盗み取る者。ta nin no mono o kyo ka na ku nusu mi to ru mono

Word origin

The Japanese noun 泥棒 (dorobō, "thief") is written with the established kanji 泥 (doro, "mud") and 棒 (bō, "stick"); the origin of the spoken form is not certain.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 泥棒 (dorobō) can refer to a thief in general, while burglar specifically suggests someone who enters a building to steal.

Other meanings

  • burglarnoun
  • robbernoun

Word lists with this word