1.
thief, bandit, robber
A person who steals, especially one who operates as part of a group or commits robbery by force. Often used in historical, literary, or dramatic contexts.
盗賊が村を襲った。
Bandits attacked the village.
昔、この山には盗賊が住んでいたという。
They say that bandits once lived in these mountains.
この物語の主人公は、義賊と呼ばれた盗賊だ。
The protagonist of this story is a bandit known as a righteous thief.
USAGE:
A literary or historical word for thieves and robbers, especially organized groups. In modern Japanese, it appears more in fiction, historical drama, and games than in everyday conversation. For modern thieves, 泥棒 is more common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 盗賊団 (band of thieves)
- 山盗賊 (mountain bandits)
- 盗賊に襲われる (to be attacked by bandits)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 泥棒: thief — everyday word for a common thief
- 強盗: robber — specifically someone who uses force or threats
- 盗賊: bandit — more dramatic, literary, or historical