窃盗(せっとう)

せっとう
noun
theft; stealing; larceny
formallaw
1. theft; stealing; larceny
The criminal act of taking someone else's property without permission. A formal, legal term commonly used in news reports and legal contexts.
窃盗(せっとう)の容疑(ようぎ)で逮捕(たいほ)された。
He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
この地域(ちいき)では窃盗(せっとう)事件(じけん)が増(ふ)えている。
Theft cases are increasing in this area.
車上(しゃじょう)窃盗(せっとう)を防(ふせ)ぐために、車内(しゃない)に貴重品(きちょうひん)を置(お)かないようにしましょう。
To prevent theft from cars, avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle.

Usage

窃盗(せっとう) is a legal and formal term for theft. It appears frequently in news and crime reports. The everyday equivalent is 盗(ぬす)み or どろぼう.

Common collocations

  • 窃盗罪(せっとうざい) (crime of theft, larceny)
  • 窃盗犯(せっとうはん) (thief, perpetrator of theft)
  • 窃盗(せっとう)事件(じけん) (theft case)
  • 窃盗(せっとう)被害(ひがい) (theft damage)
  • 車上(しゃじょう)窃盗(せっとう) (theft from vehicles)

Similar words

  • 窃盗(せっとう): theft, larceny (legal, formal)
  • 盗(ぬす)み: stealing, theft (everyday)
  • どろぼう: thief, burglar; burglary (colloquial)
  • 万引(まんび)き: shoplifting (specific to retail theft)

Related Words

Compare: 盗(ぬす)み (stealing, theft)
Compare: 泥棒(どろぼう) (thief, burglar)
Compare: 万引(まんび)き (shoplifting)
Related: 盗(ぬす)む (to steal)
Related: 強盗(ごうとう) (robbery, robber)
Related: 盗難(とうなん) (theft, robbery)
Compare: 強奪(ごうだつ) (robbery, seizure, plunder)
Compare: 略奪(りゃくだつ) (plunder, looting)
general
Added 2026.3.6 17:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15000/15280_settou