Japanese word

窃盗

Pronunciation

Romajisettō

Meaning

  • nountheft

Example

窃盗は犯罪です。set tō wa han zai de su

Theft is a crime.

Illustration for 窃盗 (theft)

More examples

店の防犯カメラが窃盗の手がかりになりました。mise no bō han ka me ra ga set tō no te ga ka ri ni na ri ma shi ta

The store's security camera provided a clue to the theft.

Core concept

Centers on taking another person's property without permission, with the wrongful taking itself as the main idea.

Common phrases

  • 窃盗を防ぐset tō o fuse gu

    prevent theft

  • 窃盗を捜査するset tō o sō sa su ru

    investigate theft

Similar words

盗みnusumi: An everyday term for taking another person's property without permission.
盗難tōnan: The loss of property because someone has stolen it.
盗取tōshu: The formal act of taking property secretly and unlawfully.

Definition in Japanese

他人の財物をひそかに盗み取ること。ta nin no zai butsu o hi so ka ni nusu mi to ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 窃 (setsu, "steal secretly") + 盗 (tō, "steal") forms 窃盗 (settō), referring to secretly taking property.

Usage tips

  • English uses theft in compounds such as identity theft and art theft, showing that the noun can describe unlawful taking involving information as well as physical property.

Word lists with this word