Japanese word

盗む

Pronunciation

Romajinusumu

Meaning

  • verbsteal

Example

弟が私のお菓子を盗みました。otōto ga watashi no o ka shi o nusu mi ma shi ta

My younger brother stole my snack.

Illustration for 盗む (steal)

More examples

人の物を盗むのは悪いことです。hito no mono o nusu mu no wa waru i ko to de su

Stealing other people's things is wrong.

Core concept

Describes taking something that belongs to someone else without permission, shifting it from their control to one's own.

Common phrases

  • 財布を盗むsai fu o nusu mu

    steal a wallet

  • かばんを盗むka ba n o nusu mu

    steal a bag

  • お金を盗むo kane o nusu mu

    steal money

Similar words

取るtoru: To take something for oneself without stating whether the action was permitted.
くすねるkusuneru: To secretly take a small amount or a minor item that belongs to another person.

Definition in Japanese

他人の物を、許可なく持ち去る。ta nin no mono o kyo ka na ku mo chi sa ru

Word origin

盗む (nusumu) is a native Japanese verb recorded in Old Japanese as 奴須牟 (nusumu), and its division into meaningful parts is not securely known.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 盗む (nusumu) makes a clear accusation, whereas 取る (toru) can simply mean take and does not by itself imply a crime.

Related words

Word lists with this word