Cika wannan magana: Bisa ga "Oxford English Dictionary", "triad" fassarar kalmar Sinanci ce "Sān Hé Huì" 三合會 (ko Triple Union Society), yana nufin haɗin sama, duniya da 'yan Adam. Wani ka'idar kuma ta ce jami'an Burtaniya ne suka kirkiro kalmar "triad" a Hong Kong na mulkin mallaka a matsayin abin da ake nufi da amfani da triads na hoton triangular. An yi hasashen cewa ƙungiyoyin triad sun ɗauki, ko kuma sun kasance wani ɓangare na, ƙungiyoyin juyin juya hali irin su White Lotus, da
Taiping da Boxer Rebellions da kuma Sama da Duniya Society.