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March 24, 2026
傻shǎ(sha3)
The character 傻 (shǎ) refers to someone who is perceived as foolish, silly, or lacking intelligence. It can be used to describe behavior that is naive or not well thought out, and it often carries a slightly affectionate or teasing connotation in informal contexts.
Strokes13Radical亻Frequency#747DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, calling someone 傻 can sometimes be endearing, especially among close friends or family, reflecting a sense of camaraderie or playfulness. It reflects a cultural tendency to use humor in interpersonal relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a silly sheep (羊, yáng) wearing a hat (傻) that makes it look foolish. The hat's shape resembles the character, helping you remember that 'shǎ' means foolishness. Picture the sheep doing silly things, reinforcing the meaning.
Meanings of 傻
shǎ(sha3)
1foolish
2foolish, silly, stupid; an imbecile
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 傻
傻Simplified
13Strokes
亻Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#747Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 傻
Podcast: 傻
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AI Study Notes for 傻
Quick Contrast
傻 (shǎ) vs 笨 (bèn) — use 傻 for a more affectionate or teasing tone, while 笨 implies a stronger sense of clumsiness or stupidity.
Usage Notes
Learners should be cautious about the tone when using 傻, as it can be playful among friends but offensive if used in formal situations. Common collocations include 傻瓜 (shǎguā, fool) and 傻事 (shǎshì, foolish things). Avoid using it to describe serious situations or people.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 傻 connects well with other adjectives describing personality traits. Focus on its usage in casual conversation and practice forming sentences that express opinions about people's actions or decisions.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 傻 in a formal setting, as it can come off as disrespectful. For example, saying '他很傻' (Tā hěn shǎ - He is very foolish) might be acceptable among friends, but inappropriate in a business meeting.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 傻
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How Well Do You Know 傻?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 傻 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.
The character 傻 (shǎ) refers to someone who is perceived as foolish, silly, or lacking intelligence. It can be used to describe behavior that is naive or not well thought out, and it often carries a slightly affectionate or teasing connotation in informal contexts.
When to use 傻
Learners should be cautious about the tone when using 傻, as it can be playful among friends but offensive if used in formal situations. Common collocations include 傻瓜 (shǎguā, fool) and 傻事 (shǎshì, foolish things). Avoid using it to describe serious situations or people.
傻 or something close to it
傻 (shǎ) vs 笨 (bèn) — use 傻 for a more affectionate or teasing tone, while 笨 implies a stronger sense of clumsiness or stupidity.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 傻 in a formal setting, as it can come off as disrespectful. For example, saying '他很傻' (Tā hěn shǎ - He is very foolish) might be acceptable among friends, but inappropriate in a business meeting.
Write 傻
傻
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Grammar Patterns of 傻
傻 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 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.
我觉得签这个协议真____。
I feel such a mug for signing the agreement.
Usage Notes for 傻
Overuse in Casual ContextsCommon Error
While '傻' is often used in informal settings, overusing it can come off as disrespectful or derogatory.
1
不要总是说我傻。
Don't always say I'm foolish.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
不要总是说我____。
Don't always say I'm foolish.
Example Sentences for 傻 (10)
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1
我觉得签这个协议真傻。
wǒ jué dé qiān zhè gè xié yì zhēn shǎ。
I feel such a mug for signing the agreement.
2
“谢谢你，医生，”护士傻笑着说。
“ “ xiè xiè， nǐ ，，” yī shēng ，” hù shì shǎ。
"Thank you doctor," said the nurse with a simper.
3
噢，他又干傻事了，是吧？
ō， ， tā yòu gān shǎ shì， le ，？
Well, he's gone and done it again, hasn't he?
4
马克称自己被搞得像个傻瓜。
mǎ kè chēng zì jǐ bèi gǎo dé xiàng gè shǎ guā。
Mark claimed he was made to look a nerd.
5
在女性眼里，他是个傻瓜。
zài nǚ xìng yǎn lǐ， ， tā shì gè shǎ。
He's a mug as far as women are concerned.
6
他常不招人待见，而且被看作是个自负的大傻帽儿。
tā cháng bù zhāo rén dài jiàn， ， ér qiě bèi kàn zuò shì gè zì fù de dà shǎ mào。
He was generally disliked and regarded as a pompous ass.
7
黛西说她傻乎乎的，但心肠很好。
dài xī shuō tā shǎ hū hū de， ， dàn xīn cháng hěn。
Daisy called her daffy, but goodhearted.
8
他想道，那人是个傻瓜，或者说，至少很无能。
tā xiǎng dào， ， nà rén shì gè shǎ， guā ， huò， zhě shuō ， zhì shǎo。
The man was a fool, he thought, or at least incompetent.
9
我只是傻傻地站在那里看着他。
wǒ zhī shì shǎ shǎ dì zhàn zài nà lǐ kàn zháo tā。
I just stood there feeling foolish and watching him.
10
人们总认为我是个傻瓜，想必他们是对的。
rén mén zǒng rèn wéi wǒ shì gè shǎ guā， ， xiǎng bì tā mén shì duì。
People always think I'm a fool, and I dare say they're right.
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Word Family of 傻
Words Containing This Character16
傻shǎfoolish
傻瓜shǎguāidiot
傻子idiot
傻笑to giggle
装傻to act stupid裝傻
傻乎乎feeble-minded
傻眼stunned
傻话foolish talk傻話
傻气foolishness傻氣
装疯卖傻to play the fool (idiom)裝瘋賣傻
傻冒idiot
傻蛋idiot
傻里傻气foolish傻裡傻氣
痴傻stupid癡傻
傻头傻脑a fool傻頭傻腦
傻瓜相机point-and-shoot camera傻瓜相機
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 傻
What does 傻瓜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 傻
傻 (shǎ) typically refers to someone who is foolish or silly, often in a light-hearted way, while 笨 (bèn) implies clumsiness or a lack of intelligence. While both can describe negative traits, 傻 is more about foolish behavior, whereas 笨 focuses on ineptness.
Yes, 傻 (shǎ) can sometimes be used affectionately among friends or loved ones to tease someone for being silly. However, context is crucial, as it can also be taken offensively if the relationship isn't close enough.
傻 (shǎ) translates to foolish or silly in English. It can be used to describe someone who is acting stupid or an imbecile. The term can carry both light-hearted and more serious connotations depending on the context.
You can use 傻 (shǎ) in sentences like '他真傻' (tā zhēn shǎ), which means 'He is really foolish.' It can describe actions or behaviors that are considered silly or unwise. Just be mindful of the context, as it can be offensive if used to describe a person negatively.
Yes, you can use 傻 humorously to describe your own silly actions, but be mindful of the context.
Not necessarily; it can be used affectionately among friends, but context is crucial.
The correct pronunciation is 'shǎ' with a falling-rising tone.
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