giang hồ
[zaːŋ˧˧ ho˨˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) lawless, especially thuggish, hoodlumish or gangsterish
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
giới giang hồthe underworld
Nhưng mọi nỗ lực của người mẹ dường như bằng không. "Thời đó, tôi không quan tâm đến mẹ. Trở về nhà, tôi luôn khoái chí kể về những "chiến tích" giang hồ của mình. Mẹ tôi cầu xin, khóc lóc đã quá nhiều đến mức không nói được gì nữa", Tú kể.But his mother's efforts came to nought. "Back then, I didn't care about my mother's feelings. When I got home, I would gloat over my thuggish achievements. My mother begged and cried until she couldn't utter a word," Tú reminisced.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) thugs, gangsters; mafia members
Common questions
What does “giang hồ” mean?
(adjective) lawless, especially thuggish, hoodlumish or gangsterish
Is “giang hồ” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.