Readings: トウ (Onyomi), ぬす.む (Kunyomi)
Meaning: steal, rob, pilfer
The kanji 盗 combines 涎 (よだれ – drool) and 皿 (さら – dish), suggesting someone intensely desiring or looking longingly at a dish, leading to the meaning of “to steal” or “to take covertly.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 盗 is written with 11 strokes. It starts with the radical for “dish” (皿) at the bottom, followed by components resembling a person with an exaggerated mouth, signifying desire or covetousness.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 皿 (さら) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Joyo |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- トウ (TŌ)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ぬすむ (nusumu)
Common Words Using 盗
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 強盗 | ごうとう | robbery; robber |
| 盗難 | とうなん | theft; robbery; stolen goods |
| 盗品 | とうひん | stolen goods |
| 盗用 | とうよう | plagiarism; misappropriation; illicit use |
| 盗撮 | とうさつ | surreptitious photography; voyeuristic photography |
| 盗聴 | とうちょう | wiretapping; eavesdropping |
| 盗作 | とうさく | plagiarism (of literary work); stolen work |
| 盗犯 | とうはん | theft; larceny |
| 盗賊 | とうぞく | thief; robber; bandit |
| 盗汗 | とうかん | night sweats (in traditional Chinese medicine) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 盗む | ぬすむ | to steal; to rob; to pilfer |
| 盗み | ぬすみ | theft; stealing |
| 盗み見 | ぬすみみ | peeping; surreptitious glance |
| 盗み聞き | ぬすみぎき | eavesdropping |
| 盗み食い | ぬすみぐい | sneaking a bite (of food); eating on the sly |
| 盗み撮り | ぬすみどり | taking a picture surreptitiously |
| 盗み足 | ぬすみあし | tiptoeing; walking stealthily |
| 盗み癖 | ぬすみぐせ | kleptomania; tendency to steal |
| 盗み酒 | ぬすみざけ | sneaking a drink (of alcohol) |
| 盗み読み | ぬすみよみ | reading secretly; reading over someone’s shoulder |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 駅で財布を盗まれた。
Kana: えきでさいふをぬすまれた。
Romaji: Eki de saifu o nusumareta.
English: My wallet was stolen at the station.
Japanese: 彼は人のアイデアを盗んだ。
Kana: かれはひとのアイデアをぬすんだ。
Romaji: Kare wa hito no aidea o nusunda.
English: He stole someone else’s idea.
Japanese: 美術館で有名な絵画が盗難に遭った。
Kana: びじゅつかんでゆうめいなかいががとうなんにあった。
Romaji: Bijutsukan de yūmei na kaiga ga tōnan ni atta.
English: A famous painting was stolen at the art museum.
Japanese: 夜中に泥棒が家に侵入して物を盗んだ。
Kana: よなかにどろぼうがいえにしんにゅうしてものをぬすんだ。
Romaji: Yonaka ni dorobō ga ie ni shinnyū shite mono o nusunda.
English: A thief broke into the house and stole things in the middle of the night.
Japanese: 子供がお菓子を盗み食いした。
Kana: こどもがおかしをぬすみぐいした。
Romaji: Kodomo ga okashi o nusumigui shita.
English: The child snuck and ate some sweets.
Japanese: 彼の盗撮行為が警察にばれた。
Kana: かれのとうさつこういがけいさつにばれた。
Romaji: Kare no tō satsu kōi ga keisatsu ni bareta.
English: His surreptitious photography was discovered by the police.
Japanese: もしかしたら盗聴器が仕掛けられているかもしれない。
Kana: もしかしたらとうちょうきがしかけられているかもしれない。
Romaji: Moshikashitara tōchōki ga shikakerareteiru kamoshirenai.
English: There might be a wiretap planted.
Japanese: その小説家は盗作を指摘された。
Kana: そのしょうせつかはとうさくをしていされた。
Romaji: Sono shōsetsuka wa tōsaku o shiteki sareta.
English: The novelist was accused of plagiarism.
Japanese: 警察は盗品を隠している場所を突き止めた。
Kana: けいさつはとうひんをかくしているばしょをつきとめた。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa tōhin o kakushiteiru basho o tsukitometa.
English: The police located where the stolen goods were hidden.
Japanese: 彼は隣のクラスのテスト用紙を盗み見た。
Kana: かれはとなりのクラスのテストようしをぬすみみた。
Romaji: Kare wa tonari no kurasu no tesuto yōshi o nusumita.
English: He secretly glanced at the test paper of the next class.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.