USAGE NOTE 用法说明: thief, shoplifter, pickpocket, mugger, burglar, and 和 robber
All of these words mean 'a person who steals things that belong to someone else'. A thief is a general word for someone who steals. Someone who takes things from shops without paying for them is a shoplifter. Someone who takes things from the pockets or bags of other people in the street, on a bus etc is a pickpocket. A mugger is someone who violently attacks someone in order to steal money etc from them, usually in a public place. A burglar takes things from people's houses. A robber takes money from banks, people etc and often uses or threatens violence. 这些词都表示“偷盗别人东西的人”。thief 是表示“小偷”的普通用词。从商店里偷东西的人是 shoplifter. 在街上或公共汽车里偷取人们口袋或背包中东西的人是 pickpocket〔扒手〕。mugger 通常是指在公共场所行凶抢劫的人。burglar 是指入室盗窃的贼。robber 是指抢劫银行或别人东西的强盗，往往使用暴力或威胁手段。