Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

暴力団員 (ぼうりょくだんいん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

暴ぼう力りょく団だん員いん

ぼ

う

りょ

く

だ

ん

い

ん

Meanings

1

member of an organized crime group; gangster; mobster; yakuza

Refers specifically to a member of a 暴力団 (bōryokudan), a legally designated organized crime group in Japan. Often used in legal, news, or formal contexts.

See also: 暴力団

警けい察さつは暴ぼう力りょく団だん員いんを逮たい捕ほした。

The police arrested a member of an organized crime group.

暴ぼう力りょく団だん員いんによる事じ件けんが増ふえている。

Incidents involving gangsters are increasing.

Kanji

暴outburst, rave, fret
力power, strength, strong
団group, association
員employee, member, number

Related words

暴ぼう力りょく団だん
暴力団 refers to the organized crime group itself, while 暴力団員 refers to an individual member of such a group.
ヤクザ
ヤクザ is a more colloquial and broader term for Japanese organized crime members or the organization, while 暴力団員 is a formal, legal term.

Built from

暴ぼう力りょく+団だん員いん

Etymology

Compound of 暴力 (bōryoku, 'violence') + 団 (dan, 'group') + 員 (in, 'member').