Definition

Noun: - Gangster; ruffian; hooligan: A person, typically part of a group, who behaves in a violent and criminal way, especially in public places. The term strongly implies thuggish, lawless, and disruptive behavior. - Bandit; outlaw: A person who engages in criminal activities, often involving robbery or violence, outside the law.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhóm côn đồ đó thường xuyên quấy rối người dân trong khu phố. (That gang of ruffians often harasses people in the neighborhood.)
  • Cảnh sát đã bắt giữ một tên côn đồ chuyên cướp giật. (The police arrested a bandit who specialized in snatch thefts.)
  • Hành động của bọn côn đồ đã phá hoại trật tự công cộng. (The actions of the hooligans disrupted public order.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "côn đồ" is often used in legal, journalistic, and everyday contexts to condemn violent, antisocial criminal behavior. It carries a strong negative connotation of brutality and a lack of morals.

Variants and Related Words

• Đầu gấu (n): Literally "head bear"; a slang term for a local bully or gangster, similar to "côn đồ" but sometimes on a smaller, more local scale.
• Du côn (n): A vagrant ruffian; emphasizes the wandering, unsettled nature of the troublemaker.
• Lưu manh (n): A scoundrel, rogue, or hoodlum; focuses on deceitful and immoral character, often overlapping with "côn đồ."

Synonyms

• Gangster: A member of an organized criminal gang.
• Ruffian: A violent, lawless person.
• Hooligan: A rowdy, violent person, often in a group setting like sports.
• Thug: A violent, brutal person, especially a criminal.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Thể hiện hành vi côn đồ: To exhibit hooligan/ruffian-like behavior.
  • Bị cáo bị buộc tội thể hiện hành vi côn đồ tại quán bar. (The defendant was charged with exhibiting hooligan behavior at the bar.)
• Băng nhóm côn đồ: A gang of ruffians/hooligans.
  • Băng nhóm côn đồ đó cuối cùng cũng bị triệt phá. (That gang of ruffians was finally dismantled.)

noun

1. gangster; ruffian; hooligan