盗む
nusumu[nɯ̟sɨmɯ̟]
To steal in Japanese is 盗む (nusumu).
The verb 盗む is used to describe the act of illegally taking possession of something.
Meaning: to illegally take possession of (verb)
Which one should you use?
盗む is a transitive verb, which means it requires a direct object (the thing being stolen). For the noun form meaning 'theft' or 'stealing', you can use the stem form 盗み.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that something was stolen, you can use the passive form 盗まれた.
How do you pronounce it?
nusumu
Did you know?
- The phrase 目を盗む (me o nusumu), which literally translates to 'to steal one's eyes', is a common idiom meaning to do something secretly or behind someone's back.
- The word 盗み (nusumi) can appear in the term 盗み火 (nusumibi), which historically referred to stealing fire from another's hearth to start one's own.
- The verb 盗む is used in the phrase 時間を盗む to describe 'stealing time' from a busy schedule to do something for oneself.
Examples in context
- 盗むのはいけないことだ。It is wrong to steal.The first sentence is useful for expressing that stealing is a wrong action using 盗む.Tatoeba #124141 by bunbuku, translation #279853 by CC
- 誰かがその商品を盗むのを見たんです。I saw somebody steal the merchandise.The second sentence shows how to use 盗む when describing seeing someone steal merchandise.Tatoeba #155173 by bunbuku, translation #259366 by CK
- 盗むくらいなら飢え死にする方がましだよ。I'd rather starve than steal.The third sentence uses 盗む to express a preference for starving over stealing.Tatoeba #10726937 by bunbuku, translation #6054748 by sergiomelo
- 彼は財布を盗んだ。He stole the wallet.
- 友達のおもちゃをぬすんだ。I stole my friend's toy.
- 彼らは本屋から漫画を盗み取った。They stole manga from the bookstore.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are discussing a news report about a shoplifting incident.
- 陽葵 Himari泥棒が店の商品を盗むなんて、信じられない。dorobō ga mise no shōhin o nusumu nante, shinjirarenai.I can't believe a thief would steal products from a shop.
- 陽太 Yota本当に。あんなことをしてはいけないよ。hontō ni. anna koto o shite wa ikenai yo.Really. One should never do such a thing.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太も、誰かの物を盗むのは絶対にダメだよ。Yōta mo, dareka no mono o nusumu no wa zettai ni dame da yo.Yōta, you must never steal someone's things either.
- 陽太 Yotaわかってるよ、陽葵。そんなことはしないよ。Wakatteru yo, Himari. Sonna koto wa shinai yo.I know, Himari. I would never do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “steal” translations and entries 盗む, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
