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March 24, 2026
愚yú(yu2)
The character 愚 (yú) primarily means 'to be stupid' or 'foolish.' It can also imply deception or trickery, as in cheating someone. In a modest context, it can be used as a humble way to refer to oneself, suggesting a lack of worth or intelligence.
Strokes13Radical心Frequency#18932DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as '愚' is often seen as a serious criticism, reflecting the value placed on wisdom and intelligence in social contexts. The term is sometimes used humorously in self-deprecating remarks.
Memory Tip
Imagine a simple-minded person wearing a large, silly hat that makes them look foolish. The character 愚 resembles a person with a big head (indicating foolishness) and a heart (symbolizing emotions), reminding you that they might be naive or easily deceived.
Meanings of 愚
yú(yu2)
1to be stupid
2to cheat or deceive
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 愚 means.
About 愚
愚Simplified
13Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#18932Frequency Rank
Podcast: 愚
Podcast: 愚
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AI Study Notes for 愚
Quick Contrast
愚 (yú) vs 笨 (bèn) — use 愚 when implying a lack of intelligence with a connotation of foolishness, while 笨 emphasizes clumsiness or slowness in understanding.
Usage Notes
This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken not to use it too lightly when referring to oneself, as it may come off as self-deprecating. Common collocations include 愚蠢 (yúchǔn - foolish) and 愚弄 (yúnòng - to deceive). Watch out for the tone, as confusing it with other similar-sounding words can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though not on the official HSK list, 愚 can be connected to other adjectives describing personality traits. Students should focus on its various contexts, especially in literature and idiomatic expressions, to fully grasp its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 愚 with other similar characters like 笨 (bèn - clumsy), which has a slightly different meaning. For example, saying '他很愚' (tā hěn yú) can sound too harsh; using '他很笨' (tā hěn bèn) might be more appropriate in casual contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 愚
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How Well Do You Know 愚?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 愚 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
愚 = 心 + 禺. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 愚
IDS Structure⿱禺心
愚Full Character
=
禺ou3
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 愚?
How to say to be stupid in Chinese
“to be stupid” in Chinese is愚yú
The character 愚 (yú) primarily means 'to be stupid' or 'foolish.' It can also imply deception or trickery, as in cheating someone. In a modest context, it can be used as a humble way to refer to oneself, suggesting a lack of worth or intelligence.
When to use 愚
This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken not to use it too lightly when referring to oneself, as it may come off as self-deprecating. Common collocations include 愚蠢 (yúchǔn - foolish) and 愚弄 (yúnòng - to deceive). Watch out for the tone, as confusing it with other similar-sounding words can change the meaning.
愚 or something close to it
愚 (yú) vs 笨 (bèn) — use 愚 when implying a lack of intelligence with a connotation of foolishness, while 笨 emphasizes clumsiness or slowness in understanding.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 愚 with other similar characters like 笨 (bèn - clumsy), which has a slightly different meaning. For example, saying '他很愚' (tā hěn yú) can sound too harsh; using '他很笨' (tā hěn bèn) might be more appropriate in casual contexts.
Write 愚
愚
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Practice writing 愚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 愚
愚 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我真应该跟我这些____蠢的朋友理论理论！
I shall have words with these stupid friends of mine!
