To confiscate something is to take private property away from someone in an official way, usually as a punishment or by rule.

To confiscate something confiscate（沒收）某樣東西，is to take private property away from someone in an official way是指用官方的方式把私人財產從某人身上拿走，usually as a punishment or by rule通常是當作處罰或依照規定。

A teacher confiscates a phone. The police confiscate a weapon. Customs officers confiscate goods you are not allowed to bring in.

A teacher老師 confiscates a phone沒收手機。The police警察 confiscate a weapon沒收武器。Customs officers海關人員 confiscate goods you are not allowed to bring in沒收你不能帶進來的東西。

The taker is not a thief acting in secret; it is a school, a court, the state, or some other authority that claims the right. The thing may or may not be given back.

The taker is not a thief acting in secret拿走東西的人不是偷偷摸摸的小偷；it is a school, a court, the state, or some other authority that claims the right而是學校、法院、國家，或其他有權這麼做的單位。The thing may or may not be given back東西可能會還回來，也可能不會。

Though actually, everyday English stretches it a little: parents joke that they will confiscate a game. That still copies the official flavour — someone with power takes it because you broke a rule. It is not a casual synonym for take or steal.

Though actually不過其實，everyday English stretches it a little日常英文會把這個字用得稍微寬鬆一點：parents joke that they will confiscate a game父母會開玩笑說要confiscate（沒收）遊戲機。That still copies the official flavour這樣講還是保留了官方那種味道——someone with power takes it because you broke a rule有權力的人因為你違反規定而把東西拿走。It is not a casual synonym for take or steal它不是take（拿）或steal（偷）的隨便同義詞。