gobang: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Specialized, Gaming
Quick answer
What does “gobang” mean?
A Japanese board game in which two players take turns placing black and white stones on a grid, aiming to connect five stones in a row.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Japanese board game in which two players take turns placing black and white stones on a grid, aiming to connect five stones in a row.
The name is also a historical term for the game Gomoku or Five-in-a-Row; it may occasionally be used metaphorically to describe any simple, direct strategy or contest of alignment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is equally rare in both varieties. 'Gomoku' is the more standard global term.
Connotations
Slightly archaic, historical; might appear in older texts or as a variant in game rulebooks.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Almost exclusively found in historical or niche gaming contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gobang” in a Sentence
They played gobang for hours.Gobang is a strategic game.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, might appear in historical studies of games or Japanese culture.
Everyday
Very rare; known mainly by board game enthusiasts.
Technical
Used in game classification, historical game references, or rule descriptions for strategy games.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gobang”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gobang”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gobang”
- Using 'gobang' to refer to the game 'Go' (Weiqi).
- Spelling as 'go-bang' or 'go bang'.
- Assuming it is a common English word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different games. Go (Weiqi) is played on a 19x19 grid with the goal of surrounding territory, while gobang (Gomoku) is played on a 15x15 or 19x19 grid with the goal of aligning five stones.
It is a romanization of the Japanese name 五目並べ (Gomoku Narabe), specifically an older, less standard transliteration. 'Go' means five, 'moku' means pieces, and 'narabe' means line-up.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term. The more internationally recognized name for the game is 'Gomoku' or 'Five-in-a-Row'.
It is unlikely to be understood by most people. It's better to use 'Five-in-a-Row' or 'Gomoku' if you need to refer to this specific game.
A Japanese board game in which two players take turns placing black and white stones on a grid, aiming to connect five stones in a row.
Gobang is usually technical/specialized, gaming in register.
Gobang: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊbæŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊbæŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "GO and BANG five stones in a row" – the goal is to get five in a line.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME OF ALIGNMENT (strategic placement leads to victory).
Practice
Quiz
Which game is 'gobang' a historical name for?