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呆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
呆
dāi
foolish
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
呆
dāi
stupid
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
呆
dāi
expressionless
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
呆
dāi
blank
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
呆
dāi
to stay
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
呆
dāi
dull, simple, stupid
HSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #480, Hard
dāi(dai1)dai T1
1foolish
2stupid
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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#480DifficultyHard
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
By ear
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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.
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.
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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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.
When to use 呆
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.
呆 or something close to it
呆 (dāi) vs 傻 (shǎ) — use 呆 for a sense of being expressionless or confused, while 傻 emphasizes a lack of intelligence or foolishness.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 呆
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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“痴____”这一统称里包括多种不同的疾病。
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
Which one
Which one 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.
1
他看起来很呆。
He looks very foolish.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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 dǎdiànhuà guòlái shí yǐ zài nàr dāi le zhěngzhěng31 gè xiǎoshí le。
He called from Weddington, having been there for 31 hours straight.
11
他总是呆呆地看着窗外，似乎在想着什么。
Tā zǒng shì dāi dāi de kànzhe chuāngwài, sìhū zài xiǎng zhe shénme.
He always gazes foolishly out the window, as if lost in thought.
12
她考试时因为太紧张，脑子一片空白，显得有些呆。
Tā kǎoshì shí yīnwèi tài jǐnzhāng, nǎozi yīpiàn kōngbái, xiǎndé yǒuxiē dāi.
During the exam, she was so nervous that her mind went blank, making her appear a bit foolish.
13
听到这个笑话后，他呆呆地站在那里，似乎没听懂。
Tīng dào zhège xiàohuà hòu, tā dāi dāi de zhàn zài nàlǐ, sìhū méi tīng dǒng.
After hearing the joke, he stood there foolishly, as if he didn't understand.
14
他在会上突然呆住了，说不出话来。
Tā zài huìshàng tūrán dāi zhù le, shuō bù chū huà lái.
He suddenly became foolishly speechless during the meeting.
15
她呆呆地盯着手机屏幕，忘了要做什么。
Tā dāi dāi de dīng zhe shǒujī píngmù, wàng le yào zuò shénme.
She stared foolishly at her phone screen, forgetting what she was supposed to do.
16
小明考试时呆了一下，想不起来答案。
Xiǎo Míng kǎoshì shí dāi le yīxià, xiǎng bù qǐlái dá'àn.
During the exam, Xiao Ming was momentarily foolish, unable to recall the answer.
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Cultural Notes for 呆
🌏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bǎoBulgaria
棠tángcrabapple tree; wild plum
枲xǐ
橐tuóbag, sack; a hollow tub open at both ends
宲bǎo
楶jié
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dāizifool
惊呆jīngdāistupefied驚呆
书呆子shūdāizibookworm書呆子
呆滞dāizhìdull呆滯
呆板dāibǎnstiff
呆若木鸡dāiruòmùjīlit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck呆若木雞
老年痴呆症lǎoniánchīdāizhèngsenile dementia老年痴獃症
呆账dāizhàngbad debt呆賬
看呆kàndāito gape at
呆笨dāibèndimwitted
呆扳手dāibānshǒuopen spanner
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 呆
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.
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