jiānghú

江湖

Word · Noun

the world at large; the society of itinerant performers

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 8 examples
1.

noun

the world at large; all corners of the land

literary

Refers to the broader society, often in traditional or historical contexts. Used in phrases like "闯江湖" (to venture into the world).

Tā他
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
jiù就
lí离
kāi开
le了
jiā家
xiāng乡
 ,
qù去
chuǎng闯
jiāng江
hú湖
 。

He left his hometown at a young age to venture into the world.

Zhàn战
luàn乱
zhī之
zhōng中
 ,
tā他
men们
yī一
jiā家
sì四
chù处
piāo漂
bó泊
 ,
liú流
luò落
jiāng江
hú湖
 。

Amidst the chaos of war, their family wandered everywhere, drifting to all corners of the land.

Show 2 more examples
Tā他
zài在
jiāng江
hú湖
shàng上
hùn混
jì迹
duō多
nián年
 ,
yuè阅
lì历
fēng丰
fù富
 。

He has roamed the world for many years and has a wealth of experience.

Zhè这
xiē些
dōu都
shì是
jiāng江
hú湖
shàng上
de的
chuán传
shuō说
 。

These are all legends from the world at large.

2.

noun

the wandering life; the society of itinerant performers and peddlers

literary

Refers to the itinerant underworld or subculture of traditional China, encompassing performers, martial artists, traveling doctors, etc. Often used to describe a tough, pragmatic way of life.

Zhè这
xiē些
pǎo跑
jiāng江
hú湖
de的
yì艺
rén人
 ,
kào靠
mài卖
yì艺
wéi为
shēng生
 。

These wandering performers make a living by selling their skills.

Tā他
zài在
jiāng江
hú湖
shàng上
xíng行
yī医
duō多
nián年
 ,
pō颇
yǒu有
míng名
qì气
 。

He has practiced medicine in the itinerant world for many years and is quite well-known.

Show 2 more examples
Jiāng江
hú湖
zhōng中
rén人
 ,
zuì最
jiǎng讲
yī一
gè个
 “
yì义
 ”
zì字
 。

Among those in the wandering life, "righteousness" is valued above all.

Tā他
mài卖
de的
bù不
guò过
shì是
xiē些
jiāng江
hú湖
gāo膏
yào药
 ,
wèi未
bì必
zhēn真
yǒu有
xiào效
 。

What he sells are just some quack remedies from the itinerant trade; they may not be truly effective.