馬 鹿(ばか)

ばか

noun, na-adjective

fool, idiot, stupid

informaldescriptive

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).

Related Words

Related: バカにする (to make fun of)

Synonym: アホ (fool (Kansai))

Compare: 愚(おろ)か者(もの) (fool)

Compare: 阿呆(あほう) (fool)

Compare: 間抜(まぬ)ける (to be silly)

general

Added 2026.1.12 20:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

03500/03574_baka