泥棒（どろぼう、dorobou）
- thief

The Japanese word 泥棒 泥棒 means "thief" or "robber." It refers to a person who steals from others, taking property without permission. The act itself of stealing is also sometimes referred to as 泥棒, although it is more commonly used to describe the person. It is a noun.

⚫︎あの家は泥棒に入られた。 Translation: That house was broken into by a thief. ⚫︎泥棒が捕まった。 Translation: The thief was caught. ⚫︎彼は泥棒の疑いをかけられている。 Translation: He is suspected of being a thief.

⚫︎You can use 泥棒 to refer to someone who steals, regardless of the size or value of what is stolen. ⚫︎It can be used in formal or informal situations. ⚫︎It is a direct and often serious term. ⚫︎When you use 泥棒, it's generally understood that the person has committed a crime.

⚫︎The word 泥棒 is primarily written using the kanji 泥棒. ⚫︎The hiragana reading is どろぼう. ⚫︎There are no variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎こそ泥 (こそどろ) - pickpocket; petty thief. ⚫︎窃盗犯 (せっとうはん) - a thief (formal). ⚫︎強盗 (ごうとう) - robber. ⚫︎掏摸 (すり) - pickpocket.

⚫︎警察官 (けいさつかん) - police officer. ⚫︎正義の味方 (せいぎの みかた) - champion of justice. ⚫︎所有者 (しょゆうしゃ) - owner.

昨夜、私の自転車が盗まれました。泥棒は許せません！ ・Translation: My bicycle was stolen last night. I can't forgive the thief! ・Explanation: This sentence expresses anger and disapproval towards the act of 泥棒 and the person who committed it.

警察は、その泥棒を逮捕するために証拠を集めている。 ・Translation: The police are gathering evidence to arrest the thief. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the actions being taken to capture the 泥棒.

The etymology of 泥棒 is thought to be a combination of two elements: 泥 (どろ - doro) which can refer to "mud" or "filth," and 棒 (ぼう - bou) which can mean "stick" or "rod." Some theories suggest that the "mud" aspect may refer to something dirty or underhanded, while the "stick" might reference a tool used in stealing, though this is debated.