바보
babo[ˈpa̠(ː)bo̞]
The English phrase "you fool" is translated in Korean as 바보 (babo).
The term is used to call someone stupid or someone who lacks common sense. Depending on your tone of voice, calling someone 바보 can range from a playful tease between friends to a genuine insult.
Which one should you use?
While 바보 often implies a level of harmless silliness or being clueless, the related term 멍청이 is a harsher term that more directly attacks a person's intelligence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 바보 is informal. The form 멍청아 is also informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone directly as "you fool" in a casual setting, the vocative particle -야 is often added to the end of the word, resulting in 바보야.
How do you pronounce it?
babo
Did you know?
- The word 바보 might actually be a disguised way of calling someone a 'glutton'. It could stem from the word for 'rice', meaning someone who does nothing but eat.
- The suffix -보 in 바보 is a common way in Korean to create a label for someone based on a specific habit. For example, 먹보 is a person who eats too much.
- The word 바보 is so common in Korean media that it is often used in song lyrics to describe a 'fool in love'. It describes someone who is helplessly devoted to another person.
Examples in context
- 진짜 바보야?jin-jja ba-bo-ya?Are you a real fool?
- 이 바보야, 이걸 왜 놓쳤어?i ba-bo-ya, i-geol wae no-chyeot-eo?You fool, why did you miss this?
- 그는 정말 바보 같아요.geu-neun jeong-mal ba-bo gat-a-yo.He seems like a real fool.
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are playing a video game together.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준아, 너 정말 바보구나!Min-jun-a, neo jeong-mal ba-bo-gu-na!Minjun, you are such a fool!
- 민준 Min-jun아니, 실수였어.a-ni, sil-su-yeot-eo.No, it was a mistake.
- 수빈 Su-bin그것도 못 하다니 바보 같아.geu-geot-do mot ha-da-ni ba-bo gat-a.You're like a fool for not even being able to do that.
- 민준 Min-jun다음 판에는 잘할게.da-eum pan-e-neun jal-hal-ge.I will do better in the next round.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 바보, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 바보, CC BY-SA 4.0.
