How to say "theft" in Japanese

• 盗難とうなんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounTheft as an incident that happens to you — a stolen bicycle, bag or car; it takes the victim's viewpoint, so it appears in police reports, news stories and insurance language.
  盗難とうなんの届とどけをだしたいのですけど。↗

  I would like to report a theft.
• 窃盗せっとうCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveTheft as a crime: the term used in law and crime reporting, equivalent to larceny; it names the offense of stealing rather than the thief or the victim's experience.
  彼かれに窃盗せっとうの嫌疑けんぎがかかっている。↗

  He is under suspicion of theft.
• 盗みぬすみJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe act of stealing itself, seen from the doer's side; it fits general talk about someone taking something, rather than naming the crime or an incident.
  その少年しょうねんは盗ぬすみをしかねない。↗

  The boy is capable of robbery.
• 泥棒どろぼうJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPrimarily a word for the thief, the person who steals; it can also stand for the deed, especially breaking in to steal, but for 'theft' itself another word is usually the better choice.

Use 盗難 for theft as an incident you suffer, 窃盗 for theft as a crime, 「盗み」 for the act of stealing, and 泥棒 chiefly for the thief rather than the theft itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 盗難とうなんtheft
• 窃盗せっとうtheft
• 盗みぬすみstealing
• 窃取せっしゅtheft
• 窃盗犯せっとうはんtheft
• 盗取とうしゅtheft
• 窃盗行為せっとうこういtheft
• 偸盗ちゅうとうrobber
• アプロプリエーションappropriation
• 窃盗罪せっとうざい(crime of) theft
• 泥棒どろぼうtheft
• 領得りょうとくtheft