Definition
帮会 refers to a traditional Chinese secret society or organized crime syndicate, often with historical roots in mutual-aid groups that evolved into underground networks (e.g., the Qing Gang, Hongmen). In modern usage it typically implies an illegal organization involved in extortion, gambling, or turf control. The English glosses 'secret society' and 'underworld gang' capture the basic meaning, but the term carries a strong historical and subcultural weight in Chinese — it's not just any criminal group, but one with its own hierarchy, rituals, and code of loyalty.
n.
secret society (historical, often with initiation rites)underworld gangorganized crime syndicate
Examples
- 帮会，。Mínguó shíqī de bāng huì shìlì hěn dà, shènzhì néng yǐngxiǎng dìfāng zhèngzhì.During the Republic of China period, secret societies were so powerful they could even influence local politics.
- 帮会。Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎng de shì yí gè bāng huì nèibù de quánlì dòuzhēng.This movie tells the story of a power struggle within a secret society.
- 帮会。Jǐngfāng zuìjìn dǎohuǐ le sān ge dìxià bāng huì.The police recently destroyed three underground gangs.
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