番ばん長ちょう

ば

ん

ちょ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

leader of a group of juvenile delinquents; gang leader

Refers to the boss of a school-based or neighborhood youth gang, often in a delinquent subculture context. The term carries a rough, old-school image and is common in manga and anime.

彼かれは中ちゅう学がくのとき、番ばん長ちょうとして恐おそれられていた。
He was feared as the gang leader when he was in junior high school.
その漫まん画がの主しゅ人じん公こうは、転てん校こう先さきの学がっ校こうで番ばん長ちょうになる。
The protagonist of that manga becomes the boss of the delinquents at his new school.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の番ばん長ちょうthe gang leader of a certain school/area
彼かれはこの学がっ校こうの番ばん長ちょうとして有ゆう名めいだった。
He was famous as the gang leader of this school.
番ばん長ちょうになるto become the gang leader
彼かれは喧けん嘩かに勝かって番ばん長ちょうになった。
He won a fight and became the gang leader.
番ばん長ちょうを気き取どるto act like the boss/gang leader
彼かれはいつも番ばん長ちょうを気き取どっている。
He always acts like he's the gang leader.

Kanji

番turn, number in a series
長long, leader, superior

Related words

不ふ良りょうN1
不良 means a juvenile delinquent in general, while 番長 specifically denotes the leader or boss of such a group.
ヤンキー
ヤンキー is a broader, more modern term for a rebellious delinquent-style youth, whereas 番長 specifically refers to the top boss of a gang.
ガキ大だい将しょう
ガキ大将 is the childish leader of a group of kids, a milder and less delinquent image than the tougher, older-style 番長.

Don't confuse with

班はん長ちょう
班長 sounds similar to 番長 but means the leader of a small work or class group, with no delinquent connotation at all.

Word family

おしゃれ番ばん長ちょう
fashion leader; fashionista

Etymology

Compound of 番 (ban, 'watch' or 'number') and 長 (chō, 'leader'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term likely originated in school slang for the head of a group of troublemakers.