やくざ

Japanese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Literally 8-9-3. From a three-card gambling game in which one is dealt a 八 (ya, “8”), 九 (ku, “9”), and 三 (sa, “3”), the worst hand.

Pronunciation

Adjectival noun

やくざ (-na inflection, rōmaji yakuza)

  1. worthless, useless

Noun

やくざ (rōmaji yakuza)

  1. something that is worthless or useless
  2. yakuza: Japanese organized crime gang, or a member of one

References
  1. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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