赌博

• Pinyin: dǔ bó
• Hanzi breakdown: 赌 = 贝 (shell/money) + 者 (phonetic); 博 = 十 (ten) + 尃 (spread) — competing widely

Meaning

To gamble; gambling. The formal term for wagering money or valuables on games of chance or uncertain outcomes.

Gambling is strictly regulated in mainland China, with most forms illegal except state-run lotteries. However, gambling thrives in Macau, often called the 'Monte Carlo of the East.' The term is also used metaphorically for risky decisions. Related terms: 赌博业 (gambling industry), 网络赌博 (online gambling), 非法赌博 (illegal gambling).

Examples

1. 很多人觉得买股票跟赌博没什么区别，但这种想法太简单了。 Many people think buying stocks is no different from gambling, but that view is too simplistic.
2. 他因为赌博欠了一屁股债，老婆孩子都跟他离婚了。 He got into deep debt from gambling, and his wife and kids divorced him.
3. 澳门是中国唯一合法赌博的地方，每年吸引大量游客。 Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal, attracting a large number of tourists every year.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, social issues, addiction

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 赌博害人害己，千万别碰。(Gambling harms yourself and others; never touch it.)
• 他把赌博戒掉了，现在生活稳定多了。(He quit gambling, and his life is much more stable now.)

Don't Say

• 把买彩票说成赌博来批评别人 (Don't call someone's lottery ticket purchase 赌博 in a judgmental way — lottery is legal and considered entertainment)

Origin & History

Compound of 赌 (to bet) + 博 (to fight for, to gain). 博 adds the sense of competing or striving to win.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal