ギャング

ぎゃんぐ
noun
gang; gangster
1. gang; organized criminal group
A group of criminals who work together, especially in the context of American or Western-style organized crime.
ギャングの抗争(こうそう)()きた。
A gang conflict broke out.
その地区(ちく)はギャングの縄張(なわば)りだと()われている。
That area is said to be gang territory.
(わか)(ころ)にギャングに(はい)り、その()更生(こうせい)した(ひと)(はなし)()いた。
I heard the story of someone who joined a gang when young and later reformed.
2. gangster; gang member
An individual member of a criminal gang. Often evokes the image of American gangsters from movies and media.
映画(えいが)(なか)のギャングたちは派手(はで)なスーツを()ていた。
The gangsters in the movie were wearing flashy suits.
ギャング映画(えいが)はアメリカでも日本(にほん)でも根強(ねづよ)人気(にんき)がある。
Gangster movies have enduring popularity in both America and Japan.
(わか)(ころ)にギャングに(はい)り、その()更生(こうせい)した(ひと)(はなし)()いた。
I heard the story of someone who joined a gang when young and later reformed.
ギャングのボスが逮捕(たいほ)された。
The gang boss was arrested.

From English "gang" / "gangster." In Japanese, ギャング typically evokes Western-style organized crime (especially American), as distinct from Japanese organized crime. Japanese crime syndicates are referred to as 暴力団(ぼうりょくだん) or ヤクザ, not ギャング.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ギャング映画(えいが): gangster movie
  • ギャング(だん): gang (group)
  • ギャングのボス: gang boss
  • ギャングの抗争(こうそう): gang conflict/warfare
  • ギャングの縄張(なわば)り: gang territory

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ヤクザ: yakuza — Japanese organized crime members; carries distinct cultural connotations
  • 暴力団(ぼうりょくだん): crime syndicate — the formal/legal term for organized crime groups in Japan
  • マフィア: mafia — specifically Italian/Sicilian-style organized crime