to rob, to steal

JLPT N2 11 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Meaning

The character (dào) primarily means "to steal" or "to rob." It is often used in contexts involving theft, burglary, or illegal appropriation. It can function as a verb or appear in compound words related to theft.

Common Collocations

  • 盗窃 (dàoqiè): theft, stealing
  • (dàozéi): thief, robber
  • (dàoyòng): to misuse or illegally use (e.g., identity theft)

Notes on Usage

When using , the context usually involves criminal acts of taking something without permission. It is more formal and often appears in written or official contexts, such as news reports or legal language. In daily conversation, people might use (tōu) more frequently for "steal."

Avoiding Confusion

Don't confuse with . While both relate to stealing, is more colloquial and often implies a smaller scale or sneaky theft, whereas has a stronger, sometimes more serious or formal connotation.

Example Sentences

He was caught by the police for stealing.

The thief broke into the museum and stole valuable artifacts.

Using someone else's identity information illegally is a crime.