泥棒(どろぼう)

どろぼう
noun
thief, burglar
1. thief, burglar, robber
A person who steals things, especially by breaking into houses.
泥棒(どろぼう)に入(はい)られた。
A burglar broke in. / We were robbed.
Passive form indicating victim
泥棒(どろぼう)が捕(つか)まった。
The thief was caught.
泥棒(どろぼう)に気(き)をつけてください。
Please watch out for thieves.
留守(るす)の間(あいだ)に泥棒(どろぼう)が入(はい)った。
A thief broke in while we were away.
泥棒(どろぼう)は窓(まど)から逃(に)げた。
The thief escaped through the window.

泥棒(どろぼう) typically refers to burglars or thieves who break into homes.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 泥棒(どろぼう)に入(はい)られる: to be burglarized
  • 泥棒(どろぼう)を捕(つか)まえる: to catch a thief
  • 泥棒(どろぼう)猫(ねこ): cat burglar; sneaky person

RELATED TERMS:

  • 窃盗(せっとう): theft (legal/formal term)
  • 空(あ)き巣(す): burglar (when residents are away)
  • 万引(まんび)き: shoplifting
  • 強盗(ごうとう): robbery (with violence/threat)

Note: 泥棒(どろぼう) is also used figuratively: 時間(じかん)泥棒(どろぼう) (time thief - something that wastes time)

core
Added 2026.1.9 21:07 · Revised 2026.1.23 17:28
01500/01688_dorobou