盗(ぬす)む

ぬすむ
verb (godan)
to steal
1. to steal, to rob
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
財布(さいふ)を盗(ぬす)まれた。
My wallet was stolen.
Passive form is common for victims
泥棒(どろぼう)が宝石(ほうせき)を盗(ぬす)んだ。
The thief stole the jewels.
人(ひと)のものを盗(ぬす)んではいけない。
You must not steal other people's things.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). Pattern: Xを盗(ぬす)む (steal X).

ASPECT: ている indicates completed action. 盗(ぬす)んでいる = 'has stolen.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 物(もの)を盗(ぬす)む (steal things)
  • 盗(ぬす)まれる (be stolen—passive, very common)
  • こっそり盗(ぬす)む (steal stealthily)
  • 盗(ぬす)み見(み)る (peep, peek)
  • 盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)き (eavesdropping)

RELATED:

  • 泥棒(どろぼう) (thief, burglar)
  • 窃盗(せっとう) (theft—formal/legal term)
  • 盗難(とうなん) (theft, robbery—noun)

PASSIVE USAGE: Victims often use the passive 盗(ぬす)まれる to describe their experience:

  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)を盗(ぬす)まれた (My bicycle was stolen)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:09 · Revised 2026.3.6 8:50
01000/01166_nusumu