1.
faction; clique; gang of conspirators
A group of people who band together to pursue a common — usually questionable or harmful — purpose. The word carries clearly negative connotations: secrecy, factionalism, plotting against others. Most commonly heard in the set phrase 徒党を組む ('to form a faction').
徒党を組む。
To band together (in a clique).
彼らは徒党を組んで反対派を攻撃した。
They formed a clique and attacked the opposing faction.
社内で特定の派閥が徒党を組んで人事を動かしているという噂が広がっている。
Rumors are spreading that a particular faction within the company has formed a clique and is manipulating personnel decisions.
時代劇には、悪徳商人と役人が徒党を組み、庶民を苦しめる場面がよく描かれる。
Historical dramas often depict scenes in which corrupt merchants and officials band together as a clique and torment ordinary people.
Composed of 徒 ('group, set of people') + 党 ('party, faction'). Both characters refer to grouping; the compound emphasizes a band of people working together for shared (and often illegitimate) ends.
USAGE:
- The word almost always appears in the set phrase 徒党を組む ('to form a clique / band together') or in the compound noun 徒党を組んだ〜 ('a faction-organized 〜'). Standalone use is rare.
- Strongly negative: implies conspiracy, factionalism, or ganging up on someone. Avoid using 徒党 for neutral groups (use グループ}, {仲間, or 団体 instead).
- Common in journalism, historical drama, and political commentary; less so in everyday conversation, where グル} ('to be in cahoots') or {結託する ('to collude') often appears.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 徒党を組む: to form a clique; to band together
- 徒党を組んだ連中: a band of people / clique members
- 徒党を率いる: to lead a faction
- 徒党を解散する: to disband a clique
- 悪の徒党: a band of villains
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 派閥: faction (within a political party or organization) — neutral institutional term; describes formal subgroups, not necessarily conspiratorial.
- 一味: a gang; a group (of accomplices) — also negative; emphasizes shared guilt, often used for criminal groups.
- 仲間: companions; group — neutral or positive; used for friends, colleagues, or fellow members.
- 結託: collusion; conspiring — describes the act of secretly cooperating, often as a verb pair to 徒党を組む.
- グル: in cahoots — colloquial expression: 〜とグルだ ('to be in on it with 〜').