HSK · Level 107
45 words
Chinese word
流氓
Pronunciation
Pinyinliú máng
Meaning
- nounthug
Example
那个流氓在街上抢东西。nà ge liú máng zài jiē shàng qiǎng dōng xī
That thug is stealing things on the street.
More examples
他因多次流氓行为被法院处罚。tā yīn duō cì liú máng xíng wéi bèi fǎ yuàn chǔ fá
He was punished by the court for repeated acts of thuggery.
Core concept
A street-level menace who uses pressure or trickery against people and treats public rules as obstacles.
Common phrases
打击流氓dǎ jī liú máng
crack down on thugs
流氓横行liú máng héng xíng
thugs run rampant
Similar words
恶棍è gùn: A wicked person who harms others through violence or cruel, dishonest methods.
无赖wú lài: A sly, irresponsible person who avoids responsibility while causing trouble or loss for others.
地痞dì pǐ: A local bully who relies on neighborhood power to prey on weaker people or break the law.
暴徒bào tú: A member of a violent group that causes disorder through attacks or destruction.
Definition in Chinese
指在街头或公共场所以暴力、威胁、欺骗等手段侵害他人、扰乱秩序的坏人或不良分子。zhǐ zài jiē tóu huò gōng gòng cháng suǒ yǐ bào lì wēi xié qī piàn děng shǒu duàn qīn hài tā rén rǎo luàn zhì xù de huài rén huò bù liáng fèn zǐ
Word origin
The earlier meaning of 流氓 (liúmáng, "thug") was linked to a drifting or wandering person, and the word later developed its modern sense of a threatening rogue.
Usage tips
- A single rude act does not normally justify this label; it points to behavior that is plainly abusive, threatening, or seriously disruptive.
Other meanings
- roguenoun
- punknoun
- scoundrelnoun
Opposites
- 守法市民shóu fǎ shì mínlaw-abiding citizennoun
Related words
- 流氓罪liú máng zuìcrime of hooliganismnoun