盗賊(とうぞく)

とうぞく
noun
thief, bandit
literarypersonlaw
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(とうぞく)が村(むら)を襲(おそ)った。
Bandits attacked the village.
昔(むかし)、この山(やま)には盗賊(とうぞく)が住(す)んでいたという。
They say that bandits once lived in these mountains.
この物語(ものがたり)の主人公(しゅじんこう)は、義賊(ぎぞく)と呼(よ)ばれた盗賊(とうぞく)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(どろぼう) is more common.

Common collocations

  • 盗賊(とうぞく)団(だん) (band of thieves)
  • 山(やま)盗賊(とうぞく) (mountain bandits)
  • 盗賊(とうぞく)に襲(おそ)われる (to be attacked by bandits)

Similar words

  • 泥棒(どろぼう): thief — everyday word for a common thief
  • 強盗(ごうとう): robber — specifically someone who uses force or threats
  • 盗賊(とうぞく): bandit — more dramatic, literary, or historical

Related Words

Synonym: 泥棒(どろぼう) (thief (everyday))
Compare: 強盗(ごうとう) (robber (uses force))
general
Added 2026.3.18 8:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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