How to say "gangster" in Japanese

• ヤクザCommon
  nounCovers 'gangster' in the sense of a member of Japan's organized crime syndicates—roughly 'mobster'. The natural word when the gangster belongs to the Japanese yakuza underworld.
  そのヤクザ達たちは対立たいりつするヤクザの親分おやぶんを暗殺あんさつする計画けいかくの仲間なかまに彼かれを入いれた。↗

  The gangsters let him in on their plan to knock off a rival gang leader.
• ギャングJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe direct loanword for 'gangster': a member of a criminal gang. An abbreviated borrowing, it fits the gangster of crime films rather than a yakuza member specifically.
  「おい、だまれ。口数くちかずが多おおいぞ」とそのギャングの一味ひとあじが言いった。↗

  "Hey, you shut up! You talk too much," the gangster said.

For 'gangster' as a member of Japan's yakuza underworld, use 「ヤクザ」; for the general sense—a member of a criminal gang, as in crime films—「ギャング」 is the direct equivalent.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• やくざ(member of the) yakuza
• ギャングスターgangster
• 組員くみいんmember (esp. of a criminal organization)
• 暴力団員ぼうりょくだんいんmember of an organized crime group
• 暴力団組員ぼうりょくだんくみいんmember of an organized crime group
• ヤクザ者やくざものprofessional gambler
• やーさんyakuza
• よたものhooligan
• ギャングgangster
• これものyakuza