Meaning and Usage
"盗難" (とうなん) specifically refers to theft or robbery, focusing on the act of stealing property. It is a noun commonly used in formal or official contexts such as police reports, news, and insurance.
Common Contexts
You will often see "盗難" used when talking about stolen items, crime prevention, or legal matters. For example, "盗難に遭う" means "to be a victim of theft." It is often paired with words like "防止" (prevention) or "被害" (damage).
Collocations and Patterns
- 盗難に遭う: to be a victim of theft
- 盗難防止: theft prevention
- 盗難届: theft report (to police)
- 盗難被害: damage caused by theft
Register and Nuance
"盗難" is a neutral to formal term. It is not used in casual conversation to describe minor stealing among friends but rather in serious or official contexts.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "盗難" with "泥棒" (どろぼう), which means "thief." Remember, "盗難" is the act or event of theft, while "泥棒" is the person who steals.