About
The character "氓" is etymologically derived from the components 亡, suggesting flight or loss, and 民, meaning people, structurally indicating its original semantic field pertaining to mobile or displaced populations. In early Chinese usage, it neutrally denoted commoners or subjects who had migrated, but over time the term acquired a derogatory nuance, gradually narrowing to describe rootless individuals or vagrants. This evolution culminated in its modern application, where it almost exclusively appears in the compound "流氓", carrying the meaning of a rogue or delinquent, thus marking a clear shift from a broad demographic term to one with specific negative social implications.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
警察抓住了流氓。
那个流氓在街上闹事。
流氓的行为令人厌恶。
我们必须打击流氓活动。
他年轻时曾是个流氓。
社会不容许流氓势力蔓延。
尽管他曾是流氓，但现在改过自新了。
法律对流氓罪有明确的定义和处罚。