도둑

doduk
thief

도둑이 내 가방을 훔쳐갔어요.

A thief stole my bag.


general

A person who steals property belonging to someone else, typically without the use of violence.

도둑이 창문을 통해 집 안에 들어왔어요.

The thief entered the house through the window.

도둑을 잡으러 경찰이 왔어요.

The police came to catch the thief.

The term '도둑' can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who takes something valuable without permission, not necessarily in a criminal sense.

Collocations

도둑 잡기catching a thief도둑질하다to steal도둑맞다to be stolen

Related Phrases

시간 도둑phrase
someone who wastes your time
도둑고양이phrase
a sneaky person

Pro Tip

Common Usage

'도둑' is a common word used in everyday Korean to describe a thief. It is often used in news reports, crime stories, and casual conversations.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

In formal contexts, such as news reports or official documents, '도둑' is used to describe a criminal. In informal contexts, it can be used more loosely to describe someone who takes something without permission.

Word Origin

The word '도둑' comes from the Middle Korean word '도둑' (doduk), which has been used for centuries to describe someone who steals.

Usage Notes

In modern Korean, '도둑' is commonly used to refer to a thief, but it can also be used in a more general sense to describe someone who takes something without permission, such as '시간 도둑' (time thief) for someone who wastes your time.

Word Breakdown

도둑
thief
root
한영사전