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March 24, 2026
呆dāi(dai1)
The character 呆 (dāi) conveys meanings related to being foolish or expressionless, as well as the notion of staying in one place. It is commonly used to describe a state of mind where someone appears blank or confused, and can also refer to the act of remaining somewhere for a period of time. In casual conversations, it can imply a lack of intelligence or a sense of being dull.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#480DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being described as 呆 can sometimes imply a lack of social awareness or intelligence, and it is often used in a teasing manner among friends. It reflects the importance of quick wit and social savvy in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing still with a blank stare on their face, symbolizing being 'dull' or 'foolish.' The character 呆 has the mouth radical (口), suggesting speechlessness or being lost for words, as if they can't think of anything smart to say.
Meanings of 呆
dāi(dai1)
1foolish
2stupid
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 呆
呆Simplified
7Strokes
口Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#480Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 呆
Podcast: 呆
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AI Study Notes for 呆
Quick Contrast
呆 (dāi) vs 傻 (shǎ) — use 呆 for a sense of being expressionless or confused, while 傻 emphasizes a lack of intelligence or foolishness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing still with a blank stare on their face, symbolizing being 'dull' or 'foolish.' The character 呆 has the mouth radical (口), suggesting speechlessness or being lost for words, as if they can't think of anything smart to say.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 呆 in appropriate contexts; it can be informal and somewhat derogatory when referring to someone's intelligence. Common collocations include 呆住 (dāi zhù, to stay) or 呆呆 (dāi dāi, blankly). Note the tonal pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 呆 connects to other vocabulary related to emotions and states of being. Students should focus on the context in which this word is used in conversations and writing, especially in informal settings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being described as 呆 can sometimes imply a lack of social awareness or intelligence, and it is often used in a teasing manner among friends. It reflects the importance of quick wit and social savvy in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 呆 with similar characters such as 笨 (bèn) which also means foolish but carries a stronger derogatory tone. For instance, saying '他很呆' (Tā hěn dāi) is acceptable, while using it with a more serious context might lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呆
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Grammar Patterns of 呆
呆 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 6 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.
Within the umbrella term "dementia" there are many different kinds of disease.
Common Confusions with 呆
呆vs逮
dǎi
Different meanings but similar pronunciation.
呆 means to be foolish or expressionless, while 待 means to wait or treat.
1
我在这里等你。 (I’m waiting for you.)
呆 means to be foolish or expressionless, while 待 means to wait or treat.
💡呆 sounds like 'dumb', while 待 relates to 'delay'.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "foolish"?
or
Usage Notes for 呆
Misusing 呆 vs. other similar verbsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 呆 with other verbs like 留 (to stay) or 待 (to wait). It's important to use 呆 specifically to describe a state of foolishness or blankness.
I had to postpone ideas of a career and stay at home.
5
你为什么不呆在这儿，陪陪埃玛？
nǐ wéi shí mó bù dāi zài zhè ér， ， péi péi āi？
Why don't you stay here and keep Emma company?
6
他被转到了肖尔溪精神病院，要在那里无限期地呆下去。
tā bèi zhuǎn dào le xiāo ěr xī jīng shén bìng yuàn， ， yào zài nà lǐ wú xiàn qī dì dāi xià。
He was transferred to Shoal Creek Mental Institution for an indefinite period.
7
和父母呆了几个星期后，她感到自己毫无自由。
hé fù mǔ dāi le jī gè xīng qī hòu， ， tā gǎn dào zì jǐ háo wú zì。
After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.
8
他们在海边呆了几个星期，皮肤晒得黝黑发亮。
tā mén zài hǎi biān dāi le jī gè xīng qī， ， pí fū shài dé yǒu hēi fā。
Their skin was tanned and glowing from their weeks at the sea.
9
其他剧院观众抱怨说，琼在台上只呆了半个小时。
qí tā jù yuàn guān zhòng bào yuàn shuō， ， qióng zài tái shàng zhī dāi le bàn gè xiǎo。
Other theatre-goers complained Joan was on stage for just half an hour.
10
他从韦丁顿打电话过来时已在那儿呆了整整31个小时了。
tā cóng wéi dīng dùn dǎ diàn huà guò lái shí yǐ zài nà ér dāi le zhěng zhěng31 31 gè xiǎo shí。
He called from Weddington, having been there for 31 hours straight.
Cultural Notes for 呆
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being described as 呆 can sometimes imply a lack of social awareness or intelligence, and it is often used in a teasing manner among friends. It reflects the importance of quick wit and social savvy in social interactions.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, being called 'foolish' may carry more serious negative connotations, whereas in Chinese, it can often be used playfully among friends.
Word Family of 呆
Compounds6
保Bao3Bulgaria
棠tang2crabapple tree; wild plum
枲
橐tuo2bag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends
宲
楶
Words Containing This Character15
呆dāifoolish
发呆fādāito stare blankly發呆
痴呆chīdāiimbecility痴獃
目瞪口呆mùdèngkǒudāistunned
呆子fool
惊呆stupefied驚呆
书呆子bookworm書呆子
呆滞dull呆滯
呆板stiff
呆若木鸡lit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck呆若木雞
老年痴呆症senile dementia老年痴獃症
呆账bad debt呆賬
看呆to gape at
呆笨dimwitted
呆扳手open spanner
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 保 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呆
Yes, 呆 (dāi) is a relatively common word in everyday Chinese, particularly when describing someone's demeanor or intelligence. It can be used in both casual and formal settings, but be mindful of its potentially negative connotations when referring to someone's intelligence.
Some synonyms for 呆 (dāi) include 笨 (bèn), which means stupid or foolish, and 愣 (lèng), which can refer to being stunned or blank. Each synonym might carry slightly different nuances, so it's best to choose based on the context in which you are speaking.
To use 呆 (dāi) in a sentence, you might say '他看起来很呆' (Tā kàn qǐlái hěn dāi), which means 'He looks very foolish.' Alternatively, you could use it in the context of staying, such as '我会呆在这里' (Wǒ huì dāi zài zhèlǐ), meaning 'I will stay here.'
呆 (dāi) can mean foolish or stupid, and it may also refer to someone who appears expressionless or blank. In addition, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to stay' or 'to remain' in a place. Context is important to understand its specific meaning.
Generally, 呆 has a negative connotation, but in close friendships, it can be used humorously to tease someone.
Make sure to use the first tone (dāi) to distinguish it from other similar sounding words.
