How to say "thug" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun (suffix), nounA clipped form of ごろつき. It often carries the racketeer nuance: a thug who uses intimidation for gain, such as a bully muscling in on a business or a neighborhood.
- 乱波らっぱnounA broad word covering ruffian and even villain alongside thug. It is less common, however, and for an ordinary street thug it is seldom the word you want.
- 乱暴者らんぼうものnounBuilt on 乱暴 'violence', this is the transparent choice: simply a violent, rough person. Use it when 'thug' means a hooligan whose defining trait is physical violence.
- nounA hoodlum or punk, often with the image of an idle loafer who hangs around and throws his weight about. Usually written in kana alone.
- 喧嘩師けんかしnounAt heart a brawler: the final character, 師 'master', suggests someone who fights expertly or habitually. It fits 'thug' when the person is above all a fighter.
All five are less common ways to render 'thug'; choose by emphasis — 乱暴者 for sheer violence, 「ごろつき」 for a loitering hoodlum, 「ゴロ」 for a racketeer, 喧嘩師 for a brawler, 乱波 for a broad ruffian sense you will seldom need.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
