xã hội đen
[saː˦ˀ˥ hoj˧˨ʔ ʔɗɛn˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(noun) thugs, gangsters, mafia members
Noun
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Cái thằng đến là hỏng. Bố mẹ nó bị bọn xã hội đen hỏi thăm mấy lần.He's so out of his depth. His parents've gotten some visits from gangs he's messed with.
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 ↗
Common questions
What does “xã hội đen” mean?
(noun) thugs, gangsters, mafia members
Is “xã hội đen” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.