笨蛋 (bèn dàn) — fool; idiot

Definition

笨蛋 calls someone a 'fool/idiot' and can sound harsher than 傻瓜, which is softer and often used playfully (even to a child or partner). Both are rude, so use them only with people you're close to.

noun
foolidiot
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 笨蛋，。
    Nǐ zhēn shì gè bèn dàn, zhè me jiǎn dān de tí dōu bú huì.
    You're such a fool — you can't even solve such a simple problem.
  • 笨蛋，。
    Bié bǎ zì jǐ dāng bèn dàn, nǐ zhǐ shì xū yào duō liàn xí.
    Don't think of yourself as an idiot — you just need more practice.
  • 笨蛋，。
    Tā zǒng jué de zì jǐ shì bèn dàn, qí shí tā bǐ shuí dōu cōng ming.
    He always thinks he's a fool, but actually he's smarter than anyone.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhú
Sound part声符shēngfú
本
本běn笨bèn
Same sound today

笨 is made of 竹 and 本, where 本 gives the sound and 竹 is related to the meaning.

Open 笨 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chóngsnake, insect
Sound part声符shēngfú
延
延yán蛋dàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 蛋, the lower part 虫 is a snake or insect, and the upper part is a shortened 延 giving the sound for 'egg'.

Open 蛋 →
Appears in
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