馬鹿
baka[ba̠ka̠]
The Japanese phrase for "dumb dumb" is 馬鹿 (baka).
馬鹿 is a common term used to call someone "dumb" or "stupid".
Which one should you use?
While 馬鹿 is a standard way to express this, you may also encounter アホ, which is a slang term meaning "idiot" or "stupid" and 阿呆, a colloquial term for calling someone "dumb" or "foolish".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
馬鹿 is an informal term. Depending on your tone and your relationship with the person, it can range from playful teasing to a genuine insult.
How do you pronounce it?
baka
Did you know?
- The word 馬鹿 may have originated as a transcription of the Sanskrit word moha, which means 'folly', and was used as a secret code among Buddhist monks.
- In Japanese, 馬鹿 can be used as a prefix to mean 'extreme' or 'excessive'. For example, 馬鹿高い describes something that is 'stupidly expensive'.
- While 馬鹿 is used nationwide, in the Kansai region of Osaka and Kyoto, アホ is often used as a warmer, more affectionate term of endearment among friends.
Examples in context
- 田中さんは無知ですね。Mr. Tanaka is ignorant, isn't he?
- あの人は本当にアホだな。That person is really dumb, huh?
- あいつ、本当に馬鹿だな。Aitsu, hontou ni baka da na.That guy is such a dumb dumb.
Example conversation
Yui and Youta are joking around at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、また忘れ物したの？Youta, mata wasuremono shita no?Youta, did you forget something again?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、財布を家に置いてきた。Un, saifu o ie ni oite kita.Yeah, I left my wallet at home.
- 結衣 Yuiもう、本当に馬鹿なんだから。Mou, hontou ni baka nanda kara.Geez, you really are a dumb dumb.
- 陽太 Yotaごめん、次は気をつけるよ。Gomen, tsugi wa ki o tsukeru yo.Sorry, I'll be more careful next time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 馬鹿, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 馬鹿, CC BY-SA 4.0.
