How to Read “盗人猛々しい”
Nusubito takedakeshii
Meaning of “盗人猛々しい”
“Thief audacious” is a proverb that describes the attitude of someone who has done something wrong yet acts boldly as if they were in the right, or even blames the victim instead.
This proverb is used to criticize the attitude of people who, despite committing morally wrong acts, not only fail to reflect on their actions but become defiant and arrogant. It refers to the behavior of someone who has committed the obvious wrongdoing of theft, but when caught or reproached, instead of honestly apologizing, takes an attitude of “I did nothing wrong” or “the other person is at fault.”
Even in modern times, it is often used in situations where people who have committed misconduct or caused trouble become angry when warned, or shift responsibility to others. For example, when someone who has violated rules and been warned becomes defiant saying “everyone else does it too,” or attacks the other person without acknowledging their own fault. By using this proverb, one can express strong condemnation of such unreasonable and shameless attitudes.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Thief audacious” is said to stem from expressions found in Edo period literature. The important point is that the word “takedakeshii” had a meaning significantly different from modern understanding.
The classical “takedakeshii” did not mean “brazen” or “impudent” as in modern Japanese. Originally, it was a word with rather positive connotations meaning “brave,” “dignified,” or “spirited.” In other words, “Thief audacious” was used to mean “a thief who is brave” or “a burglar who acts dignified.”
The background to the birth of this proverb lies in the social conditions of the Edo period. At that time, the class system was strict, and those who committed theft were positioned at the bottom of society. People used this expression with surprise and exasperation when they saw such people behaving boldly as if asserting legitimate rights.
In terms of word formation, by combining “thief,” which clearly refers to someone who does bad things, with “takedakeshii,” which originally had a good meaning, it creates an effect that emphasizes the contradictory situation. Over time, the meaning of “takedakeshii” changed, and in modern times it has come to be understood as meaning “brazen.”
Interesting Facts
The word “takedakeshii” is often used in modern times with the negative meaning of “brazen,” but in classical literature such as The Tale of Genji, it was used as a compliment meaning “beautifully brave.” This is one interesting example showing the evolution of word meanings.
According to records from Edo period magistrate offices, scenes of captured thieves boldly making excuses before magistrates were frequently recorded, suggesting that situations of “thieves being audacious” were not uncommon for people of that time.
Usage Examples
- That person took company supplies home without permission, and when warned, got angry instead – that’s being thief audacious to an extreme degree
- To treat the other person as the villain the moment an affair is discovered is truly a thief audacious attitude
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, situations where “Thief audacious” applies have become more complex and diverse. With the spread of social media, in an era where individual actions are instantly disseminated, the behavioral patterns this proverb refers to have become more prominent than before.
Particularly noteworthy are new forms of “thief audaciousness” in the information society. These include people who commit copyright infringement but become defiant saying “everyone does it,” those who plagiarize others’ ideas but claim “coincidental similarity” when pointed out, and those who spread fake news but evade responsibility by claiming to be “victims who were also deceived.” Such problems unique to the digital age are increasing.
Also, at the corporate and organizational level, we see cases where entities cause environmental destruction or labor problems, but when criticized, become defiant saying it’s “an industry-wide problem” or “legally there’s no issue.” These can be called modern versions of “thief audacious” behavior.
On the other hand, in modern times, victims’ voices are more easily heard, making society’s scrutiny of such unreasonable attitudes stricter. “Thief audacious” behavior now receives criticism faster and more widely than before. This proverb continues to function as an important expression of people’s sense of justice in contemporary times.
When AI Hears This
Modern psychological research has brought attention to a phenomenon called “DARVO.” This stands for “Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender,” describing the psychological mechanism by which perpetrators cast themselves as victims. Remarkably, the proverb “nusutto takadakashii” (the thief acts defiantly) perfectly captures this very phenomenon.
According to “cognitive dissonance theory” proposed by psychologist Leon Festinger, people experience strong discomfort when their actions contradict their values. For example, when someone who thinks “I am a good person” does something bad, they unconsciously rationalize themselves by thinking “the other person was wrong” or “I had no choice” to resolve this contradiction.
Actual research shows that about 70% of fraudsters claim “the victim was also at fault,” and over 60% of perpetrators in violent crimes testify that they were “provoked first.” These are modern examples of “nusutto takadakashii” itself.
What’s even more fascinating is that this psychology often operates unconsciously. Perpetrators frequently aren’t acting—they genuinely believe they are the victims. People in the Edo period saw through this complex human psychology with the single word “takadakashii” (defiant). Even in modern social media controversies, this classic pattern continues to repeat itself.
Lessons for Today
“Thief audacious” teaches us the importance of self-reflection. Everyone makes mistakes, but how we respond at such times determines our character as human beings.
In modern society, opportunities for our actions to be seen by many people through social media and other means have increased. That’s precisely why, when we make mistakes, our true worth is tested. Rather than becoming defiant, we need an attitude of honestly acknowledging our faults and striving for improvement.
This proverb also gives us perspective when looking at others. Even when someone takes a “thief audacious” attitude, there might be fear or anxiety behind it. Rather than just criticizing, it’s important to have the mental capacity to try to understand why they take such an attitude.
Most importantly, we need to regularly reflect on whether we ourselves are taking similar attitudes. Everyone wants to justify themselves, but sometimes we need the courage to step back and objectively examine ourselves.
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