tong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “tong” mean?
A Chinese secret society or association, often involved in community affairs or historically in organized crime.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Chinese secret society or association, often involved in community affairs or historically in organized crime.
Can refer to any similar ethnic or cultural association, or metaphorically to a closed group with secretive practices.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, more commonly associated with historical Chinatowns and gang conflicts; in British English, less frequent, used primarily in academic or historical discussions.
Connotations
In the US, may evoke images of tong wars and organized crime; in the UK, more neutral or scholarly.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to historical context in Chinese diaspora communities.
Grammar
How to Use “tong” in a Sentence
noun + of + locationnoun + involved in + activityVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in contexts of ethnic business networks or historical references.
Academic
Common in historical, sociological, or anthropological studies of Chinese diaspora.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly in historical discussions or crime-related media.
Technical
Not commonly used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tong”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tong”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tong”
- Confusing 'tong' with 'tongue' in spelling or pronunciation.
- Using 'tongs' (the tool) when referring to the society.
- Mispronouncing as /tʌŋ/ instead of /tɒŋ/ or /tɑːŋ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'tong' refers to a Chinese secret society, while 'tongs' is a tool used for gripping or lifting objects.
In British English, it is pronounced /tɒŋ/ (like 'song'), and in American English, /tɑːŋ/ (like 'father' with 'ng').
It is primarily used in historical, academic, or journalistic contexts discussing Chinese diaspora communities, especially in the United States.
No, 'tong' is standardly a noun; it is not commonly used as a verb or adjective in modern English for this meaning.
A Chinese secret society or association, often involved in community affairs or historically in organized crime.
Tong is usually formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tong wars”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tong' rhyming with 'song' that only members sing in secret, or associate it with 'tongue' for whispered secrets.
Conceptual Metaphor
A tong is often metaphorically seen as a web or network, emphasizing hidden connections and communal bonds.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'tong'?