傻瓜 (shǎ guā) — fool, idiot

Definition

A casual, often affectionate insult for a fool — softer and more teasing than 笨蛋. Often used between friends or with 小/老 to sound endearing.

noun
foolidiot
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 傻瓜
    Tā zhēn shì gè shǎ guā.
    He's really a fool.
  • 傻瓜
    Bié zuò shǎ guā le, kuài xiǎng xiǎng bàn fǎ.
    Don't be a fool — think of a solution quickly.
  • 傻瓜
    Nǐ zhè xiǎo shǎ guā, yòu wàng dài yào shi le.
    You little goof, you forgot your keys again.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

shǎfoolish
guāmelon

'傻' means foolish, and '瓜' is a melon, together suggesting a foolish person.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 傻 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 瓜 is drawn from a melon hanging from its vines, which matches its meaning.

Open 瓜 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.