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The character 窃 (steal, secretly) evolved from ancient forms depicting 'rice' being stolen or secretly taken. In Liushutong, L27073 shows an early form with 穴 (cave/hole) and 米 (rice), suggesting secretly taking grain. The modern form 窃 combines 穴 (hole) with 切 (cut), creating the meaning 'to steal secretly' or 'to appropriate covertly'. Throughout Chinese history, it has maintained connotations of stealth, theft, and private appropriation. Arrived in Japan: The character 窃 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (250-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China, likely via Korean peninsula. It was systematically introduced with other Chinese characters during the 5th-6th centuries CE when Japan adopted Chinese writing system and Buddhist texts.