馬鹿(ばか)

ばか
noun, na-adjective
fool, idiot, stupid
1. fool, idiot
A person who lacks intelligence or good judgment; someone who acts foolishly.
馬鹿(ばか)にしないで。
Don't make fun of me.
馬鹿(ばか)にする = to make fun of, to look down on
あいつは本当(ほんとう)に馬鹿(ばか)だな。
That guy is really an idiot.
馬鹿(ばか)を見(み)るのは自分(じぶん)だよ。
You'll be the one who ends up looking foolish.
馬鹿(ばか)を見(み)る = to be made a fool of
2. stupid, foolish
Lacking intelligence or common sense; absurd or ridiculous.
馬鹿(ばか)なことを言(い)うな。
Don't say stupid things.
そんな馬鹿(ばか)な話(はなし)があるか。
That's absurd!
馬鹿(ばか)らしくてやってられない。
It's so ridiculous I can't be bothered.
馬鹿(ばか)らしい = ridiculous, absurd
3. crazy about, obsessed with
Extremely devoted to or enthusiastic about something (often with 〜馬鹿(ばか)).
彼(かれ)はサッカー馬鹿(ばか)だ。
He's crazy about soccer.
〜馬鹿(ばか) = obsessed with ~
親(おや)馬鹿(ばか)だから、子供(こども)のことになると何(なん)でも買(か)ってしまう。
I'm such a doting parent that I end up buying anything for my kids.
親(おや)馬鹿(ばか) = doting parent
彼女(かのじょ)は釣(つ)り馬鹿(ばか)で、休(やす)みの日(ひ)はいつも川(かわ)にいる。
She's obsessed with fishing and is always at the river on her days off.

USAGE: 馬鹿(ばか) can be offensive when used directly about a person. However, it's also used affectionately or self-deprecatingly.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 馬鹿(ばか)にする (to make fun of, to look down on)
  • 馬鹿(ばか)を見(み)る (to be made a fool of)
  • 馬鹿(ばか)らしい (ridiculous, absurd)
  • 〜馬鹿(ばか) (obsessed with ~, ~ freak)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 馬鹿(ばか)な！ (That's absurd! No way!)
  • 馬鹿(ばか)も休(やす)み休(やす)み言(い)え (Don't talk such nonsense)
  • 馬鹿(ばか)正直(しょうじき) (naively honest)

NOTE: Often written in hiragana (ばか) rather than kanji in casual writing. The word originated as a Buddhist term before taking on its current meaning.

REGIONAL NOTE: In Kansai, アホ is more commonly used than 馬鹿(ばか).

general
Added 2026.1.12 20:58 · Revised 2026.3.1 10:04
03500/03574_baka