連れん中ちゅう

also: れんじゅう · れんぢゅう

れ

ん

ちゅ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

noun

group; bunch; guys; folks

Familiar or derogatory term for a group of people, often implying the speaker is not part of the group or looks down on them. Can be used casually among friends.

あの連れん中ちゅう

は

いつも

遅ち

刻こく

する

。

That bunch is always late.

隣となりの連れん中ちゅうがうるさくて眠ねむれない。

The guys next door are so noisy I can't sleep.

2

noun

troupe; company (of performers)

Only with reading れんじゅう / れんぢゅう

Used for a group of performers, especially musicians or actors. Often read れんじゅう in this sense, though れんちゅう is also possible.

旅たび回まわりの連れん中じゅうが町まちにやって来きた。
A traveling troupe came to town.

Usage patterns

連れん中ちゅうとつるむto hang around with a bunch/gang of people
あの連れん中ちゅうとつるむのはやめたほうがいい。
You'd better stop hanging around with that bunch.
連れん中ちゅうを率ひきいるto lead a troupe (of performers)
座ざ長ちょうがその連れん中ちゅうを率ひきいて全ぜん国こくを回まわった。
The troupe leader led the group on a tour around the country.
〈事こと〉をする連れん中ちゅうthe bunch of people who do (something)
悪わるいことをする連れん中ちゅうには近ちかづかない方ほうがいい。
It's better not to get close to people who do bad things.
連れん中ちゅうに加くわわるto join a troupe/group
彼かれは若わかくしてその連れん中ちゅうに加くわわった。
He joined the troupe at a young age.

Kanji

連take along, lead, join
中in, inside, middle

Related words

仲なか間まN3sense 1
仲間 is a neutral word for companions or colleagues, while 連中 often carries a familiar or dismissive tone toward the group.
奴やつら sense 1
奴ら is more bluntly derogatory and masculine in tone, whereas 連中 can be used casually by anyone without being as harsh.
一いち味み sense 1
一味 specifically suggests a gang or group of conspirators/criminals, while 連中 is broader and doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing.
面めん々めん sense 1
面々 is a more formal or literary word that respectfully lists each member of a group, unlike the familiar or derogatory 連中.
輩やから
連中 is a blunt, often dismissive term for a group of people, while 輩 can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.

Word family

取とり巻まき連れん中ちゅう
entourage; cronies; hangers-on

Written forms

連中Usage100%
- れんちゅう
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is れんちゅう.
- れんじゅう
  Alternate reading used mainly for the 'troupe' sense; less common than れんちゅう.
- れんぢゅう

Etymology

Developed from 連衆（れんじゅう）, “a company or group of associates,” through the change of じゅう to ちゅう. The reading れんじゅう preserves the older form.

Historical kana spelling; included for search compatibility.

れんじゅう

れんぢゅう