你很笨
In Chinese, "you are stupid" is expressed as 你很笨.
The phrase 你很笨 is used to say "you are stupid." The core term 笨 (bèn) can also be used to describe someone who is physically clumsy or lacks coordination.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (you), 很 (very) and 笨 (stupid/clumsy).
Which one should you use?
While 笨 (bèn) implies a lack of intelligence or being 'slow' on the uptake, 傻 (shǎ) often implies being foolish, naive or silly in a more behavioral sense.
Did you know?
- While 笨 (bèn) is an insult, the phrase 笨蛋 (bèndàn), meaning 'stupid egg', can be used as a term of endearment between romantic partners or close friends.
- In Chinese culture, calling a child 笨 (bèn) is often avoided because of a traditional belief that words have power and can manifest as a self-fulfilling prophecy for the child's intelligence.
- Calling someone 笨 (bèn) is generally considered less offensive than using the word 蠢 (chǔn), which implies a more profound, animal-like stupidity.
Examples in context
- 你很笨。You are stupid.Tatoeba #995295 by NickC, translation #69480 by CM
- 你很笨，连这个都不会。Nǐ hěn bèn, lián zhège dōu bù huì.You are stupid, you don't even know how to do this.
- 别说话了，你很笨。Bié shuōhuà le, nǐ hěn bèn.Stop talking, you are stupid.
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing over a simple puzzle.
- 浩然 Haoran快点，答案就在这里！Kuài diǎn, dá'àn jiù zài zhèlǐ!Hurry up, the answer is right here!
- 雨婷 Yuting我真的看不出来。Wǒ zhēnde kàn bù chūlái.I really can't see it.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你很笨！Yǔtíng, nǐ hěn bèn!Yuting, you are stupid!
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你才笨！Hàorán, nǐ cái bèn!Haoran, you're the stupid one!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
