盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)き

ぬすみぎき
noun
eavesdropping
1. eavesdropping, listening secretly
The act of secretly listening to a conversation that is not intended for you to hear.
盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きはよくない。
Eavesdropping is not a good thing to do.
隣(となり)の部屋(へや)の会話(かいわ)を盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きしてしまった。
I accidentally overheard the conversation in the next room.
壁(かべ)に耳(みみ)を当(あ)てて盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きをしているのを見(み)つかって、ひどく怒(おこ)られた。
I was caught eavesdropping with my ear against the wall and got severely scolded.

A compound of 盗(ぬす)む (to steal) and 聞(き)く (to listen), with rendaku changing き to ぎ. Literally means "stealing a listen." The verb form is 盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きする.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きをする: to eavesdrop
  • 盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)きされる: to be eavesdropped on
  • 電話(でんわ)の盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)き: phone tapping

RELATED TERMS:

  • 盗(ぬす)み見(み): peeping, peeking — the visual equivalent, secretly watching
  • 盗聴(とうちょう): wiretapping, bugging — a more technical/legal term for electronic eavesdropping
  • 立(た)ち聞(ぎ)き: overhearing while standing nearby — less intentional than 盗(ぬす)み聞(ぎ)き
general
Added 2026.4.2 12:20
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