窃盗（せっとう、seっtou）
- theft

The Japanese word 窃盗 せっとう refers to the crime of theft or larceny. It encompasses the act of taking someone else's property without their permission and with the intent to deprive them of it. This includes taking something secretly (stealing) or by force. 窃盗 is a legal term, so it's often used in formal contexts, such as news reports, legal documents, and police investigations. It's a serious offense in Japan, with punishments varying depending on the value of the stolen items and the circumstances of the theft.

⚫︎彼は、店で窃盗の罪で逮捕された。 Translation: He was arrested for the crime of theft at the store. ⚫︎窃盗事件の被害者は、貴重品を失った。 Translation: The victim of the theft incident lost valuable items. ⚫︎その博物館では、高価な美術品が窃盗された。 Translation: Expensive art objects were stolen from that museum.

You would use 窃盗 in situations where you are discussing the crime of theft. This is typical in news reports, legal discussions, or when talking about criminal activities. It is a formal word, so you wouldn't typically use it in everyday casual conversations, unless you're discussing a theft incident with someone. In casual conversation, you might use a more general term like 盗み ぬすみ (theft, stealing) or a phrase like 物を盗む ものをぬすむ (to steal something).

窃盗 is typically written in kanji. The reading is せっとう in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard and doesn't have variations.

⚫︎盗み ぬすみ (theft, stealing) - More casual ⚫︎万引き まんびき (shoplifting) - Specific form of theft ⚫︎強盗 ごうとう (robbery) - Theft involving violence or threat of violence.

⚫︎所有 しょゆう (possession, ownership) ⚫︎贈与 ぞうよ (donation, gift) ⚫︎購入 こうにゅう (purchase)

警察は、銀行窃盗事件の犯人を捜査している。 ・Translation: The police are investigating the culprit of the bank theft incident. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 窃盗 to describe a serious crime, a bank robbery.

その宝石店は、夜中に窃盗の被害に遭った。 ・Translation: That jewelry store was victimized by theft during the night. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 窃盗 to describe how the jewelry store became a victim of the crime.

The word 窃盗 is a compound word, formed by combining two kanji: 窃 せつ and 盗 とう. 窃 means "secretly" or "stealthily," and 盗 means "to steal." Therefore, the combined meaning, 窃盗, directly reflects the act of taking something by stealth.