帮会 (bāng huì) — secret society (historical, often with initiation rites); underworld gang; organized crime syndicate
Definition
A historical term for organized secret societies and underworld gangs, especially from late-imperial and Republican-era China (e.g. 洪门, 青帮). Today it mainly appears in history, literature, or crime-fiction contexts.
noun
secret society (historical, often with initiation rites)underworld gangorganized crime syndicate
Examples
- 帮会，。Mín guó shí qī de bāng huì shì lì hěn dà, shèn zhì néng yǐng xiǎng dì fāng zhèng zhì.During the Republic of China period, secret societies were so powerful they could even influence local politics.
- 帮会。Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì yí gè bāng huì nèi bù de quán lì dòu zhēng.This movie tells the story of a power struggle within a secret society.
- 帮会。Jǐng fāng zuì jìn dǎo huǐ le sān gè dì xià bāng huì.The police recently destroyed three underground gangs.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.