皮條客 / 皮条客
pítiáokè
The English phrase 'pimp' can be translated into Chinese as 皮條客 / 皮条客 (pítiáokè). If unsure, use 皮條客 / 皮条客. Wiktionary also lists 老鴇 / 老鸨 (lǎobǎo) and 媽媽桑 / 妈妈桑 (māmāsāng).
Meaning: prostitution solicitor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 皮條客 / 皮条客 | pítiáokè | |
| 老鴇 / 老鸨 | lǎobǎo | feminine |
| 媽媽桑 / 妈妈桑 | māmāsāng | Taiwan, feminine |
Which one should you use?
While the verb phrase 拉皮條 / 拉皮条 specifically refers to the act of acting as a pimp or procuring prostitutes, the term 拉客 (lā kè) translates more broadly to 'to solicit customers' and can be used for any kind of street solicitation. For the noun, 老鴇 / 老鸨 is a feminine term for a pimp, while 媽媽桑 / 妈妈桑 is also used for a female procurer in certain regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the feminine term 媽媽桑 / 妈妈桑 is commonly used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb phrase 拉皮條 / 拉皮条 (lā pítiáo) is used to describe the act of acting as a pimp or procuring prostitutes.
How do you pronounce it?
皮條客 / 皮条客 is pronounced pítiáokè.
Did you know?
- The term 媽媽桑 / 妈妈桑 is actually a direct phonetic translation of the Japanese word ママさん (mamasan), which means 'mother' or is a respectful way to address a woman in charge.
- The verb 拉皮條 / 拉皮条 (lā pítiáo) uses a word that can be translated literally as 'to pull a skin strip', a phrase that sounds quite nonsensical in English.
- The term 老鸨 / 老鸨 is often used in Chinese literature and opera to characterize a specific type of formidable or villainous female character.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pimp” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 媽媽桑, CC BY-SA 4.0.
