How to Write 氓 (máng) — Meaning “Hoodlum / Rogue”

Imagine a 'dead' person (亡) hiding among the 'common people' (民) and causing trouble — that person becomes a rogue or hoodlum. This visual of a troublemaker disguised within a crowd helps link the components to the meaning of 氓.

The top part 亡 has three strokes: a dot, a horizontal line, and a vertical hook — make sure the hook is sharp and not too wide. The bottom part 民 has five strokes and ends with a vertical hook; common mistakes are making the top too big or forgetting the hook at the bottom.

The most common word is 流氓 (liú máng), meaning hooligan or rogue, often used to describe someone who harasses others or acts like a thug. Other literary terms include 氓隶 (máng lì, 'commoners and slaves') and 黎氓 (lí máng, 'the common people'), but these are very rare in everyday speech.

In modern Chinese, 氓 appears almost exclusively in the word 流氓, which is a strong insult for a thug, pervert, or uncivilized person. Culturally, calling someone a 流氓 can imply they are a lawless troublemaker, and the term is also used online to criticize rude behavior.

Common words containing 氓 include: 流氓 (liú máng) — hooligan / rogue; 氓隶 (máng lì) — Commoners and slaves; 黎氓 (lí máng) — The common people (literary).