強盗
ごうとう · goutou · JLPT N3 · noun
robbery
💰 強盗 = force + steal: taking things by force is robbery
強 means strong or by force (as in 強い, tsuyoi), and 盗 means to steal (as in 盗む, nusumu). Stealing by force makes a robbery. Sound hook: goutou sounds like go to, as in the robber who goes to the bank.
盗 — 次 (drool/desire) + 皿 (dish/vessel)
Originally depicted someone drooling (次, showing saliva 氵 next to a person yawning 欠) over a vessel of food (皿), capturing the idea of coveting what belongs to others. The meaning extended from coveting to stealing, and today 盗 means 'to steal' or 'thief/robber'.