Standard Lemma guide

laogai

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • lou′gī′

1

noun

Meaning 1

The use of prison labor and prison farms in the People's Republic of China.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • Ethan Gutmann (2010), Hacker Nation: China's Cyber Assault, archived from the original on 16 May 2010: “The 6-10 Office also created fake refugees—young, trained to mimic Falun Gong behavior, and holding paperwork confirming time spent in laogai, China’s penal system.”

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Mandarin 勞改/劳改 (láogǎi, literally “labour rehabilitation”).

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 勞動改造 /劳动改造 (láodòng gǎizào) — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 勞改 /劳改 (láogǎi) — Translations
  • French: laogai — Translations