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道Nihongo Path
盗

盗·steal

On-yomi
トウ
Kun-yomi
ぬす(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

11 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
盗むぬすむto steal
強盗ごうとうrobbery, robber
盗難とうなんtheft
盗作とうさくplagiarism

Example sentences

  1. 駅で自転車を盗まれた。

    えきでじてんしゃをぬすまれた。

    My bicycle was stolen at the station.

  2. 銀行に強盗が入ったそうだ。

    ぎんこうにごうとうがはいったそうだ。

    I hear a robber broke into the bank.

  3. 盗難に気をつけてください。

    とうなんにきをつけてください。

    Please be careful about theft.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 強盗 as きょうとう — it is ごうとう
  • Writing 取る where 盗む is meant; 盗む always implies theft

Memory aid

Picture it

Someone drooling (the water strokes over 欠) over a dish (皿) of someone else's food — and taking it.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 盗 mean?