1.
fool; idiot; stupid person
A person who acts foolishly or lacks good judgment. Somewhat literary or dramatic in tone, often found in stories, proverbs, and formal criticism.
この愚か者め！
You fool!
自分の過ちに気づかない愚か者だ。
He's a fool who doesn't notice his own mistakes.
歴史から学ばない者は愚か者と呼ばれても仕方がない。
Those who don't learn from history can't complain about being called fools.
Compound of 愚か (foolish) + 者 (person). Has a literary or dramatic quality — more likely heard in period dramas, stories, or solemn pronouncements than in casual conversation.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 愚か者め: "you fool!" (with contemptuous め particle)
- 愚か者と呼ばれる: to be called a fool
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ばか: idiot (the most common everyday word; can be affectionate)
- あほ: fool (Kansai dialect equivalent of ばか; can also be affectionate)
- 愚かな: foolish (the adjective form; modifies actions or decisions)
- 間抜け: dunce, blockhead (focuses on cluelessness)