盗む・偸む|ぬすむnusumu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
盗む盗む is the common form and the recommended choice for beginners. It is the form to use when writing this word.
偸む偸む is a rarely used written form of 盗む. Learners should generally choose 盗む instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto steal何冊かの本が盗まれた。↗A number of books were stolen.
- godan verb, transitive verbto plagiarize; to steal (a technique, idea, etc.); to watch and learn
- godan verb, transitive verbto do stealthilyoft. as 目を盗んで
- godan verb, transitive verbto do during scant timeusu. as 暇を盗んで
- godan verb, transitive verb, baseballto steal a base
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 盗む（ぬすむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 盗みます（ぬすみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 盗まない（ぬすまない） |
| polite (masen) | 盗みません（ぬすみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 盗まず・盗まぬ（ぬすまず・ぬすまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 盗んだ（ぬすんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 盗みました（ぬすみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 盗まなかった（ぬすまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 盗みませんでした（ぬすみませんでした） |
| Te form | 盗んで（ぬすんで） |
| Potential | 盗める（ぬすめる） |
| Passive | 盗まれる（ぬすまれる） |
| Causative | 盗ませる（ぬすませる） |
| Causative passive | 盗ませられる・盗まされる（ぬすませられる・ぬすまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 盗めば（ぬすめば） |
| tara | 盗んだら（ぬすんだら） |
| Volitional | 盗もう（ぬすもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 盗みましょう（ぬすみましょう） |
| Imperative | 盗め（ぬすめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym窃盗せっとうWrittenWritten word for theft as a crime, as in 「窃盗犯」; a legal term, while 「盗む」 is the everyday verb.
- Synonym掠め取るかすめとるWrittenWritten word for sneaking something away or tricking it out of someone, as in 「財産を掠め取る」; stresses the covert method more than 「盗む」.
- SynonymパクるCasualSlang for stealing or plagiarizing, as in 「アイデアをパクる」; also means to arrest or get arrested, as in 「警察にパクられる」.
- Synonym窃取せっしゅWrittenWritten word for stealing, as in 「情報を窃取する」; common in legal contexts, unlike the everyday 「盗む」.
- Synonym盗み取るぬすみとるNeutralNeutral compound meaning to steal and take; like 「盗む」 but puts more emphasis on actually getting the thing into your hands.
- SynonymかすめるWrittenWritten word for stealing on the sly through a moment's opening, or for brushing past; 「目を掠める」 means doing something behind someone's back.
- SynonymくすねるCasualColloquial for pilfering small things on the sly, as in 「お菓子をくすねる」; lighter than 「盗む」 and for petty takings.
- SynonymがめるCasualSlang for secretly making something your own, with a greedy nuance; rougher and more casual than 「盗む」.
- Synonym盗るとるNeutralNeutral word for stealing away, as in 「財布を盗られる」; it typically appears in the passive, of having something stolen.
- SynonymちょろまかすCasualColloquial for sneaking money off or pocketing it while no one is looking, as in 「お釣りをちょろまかす」; covers petty embezzlement too.
- Related横取りよこどりNeutralNeutral word for snatching something from the side, as in 「手柄を横取りする」; implies taking what is another's, often their credit.
- Related奪取だっしゅWrittenWritten word for taking by force, as in 「政権奪取」; about seizing, not the covert taking of 「盗む」.
- RelatedぶんどるWrittenWritten word for taking by force or as spoils, with a rough nuance; about grabbing, not the stealthy taking of 「盗む」.
- RelatedかっさらうCasualColloquial for snatching something away before anyone can stop you, as in 「優勝をかっさらう」; more forceful than 「盗む」.
- RelatedかっぱらうCasualColloquial for swiping or pilfering on the spot, as in 「店から掻っ払う」; casual and a bit rough compared with 「盗む」.
- Related盗み出すぬすみだすNeutralNeutral word for stealing something out of a place, as in 「金庫から盗み出す」; stresses carrying it out, which 「盗む」 does not.
- Antonym与えるあたえるNeutralAntonym meaning to give or bestow, as in 「褒美を与える」; the opposite of taking what is not yours.
- Antonym返すかえすNeutralAntonym meaning to return or give back, as in 「借りた本を返す」; restores what was taken rather than taking it.
Default to 「盗む」 for stealing. Use 「窃盗」 and 「窃取」 in legal or written contexts, 「くすねる」 for pilfering small things, 「パクる」 as slang for plagiarizing, 「横取り」 for snatching from the side, 「かっさらう」 for grabbing away, and 「奪取」 for taking by force. The antonyms 「与える」 and 「返す」 cover giving and returning.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
