Japanese Conversation · Level 49
90 words
Japanese word
ぼけ
Pronunciation
Romajiboke
Meaning
- nounidiot
Example
人にぼけと言わないでください。hito ni bo ke to i wa na i de ku da sa i
Please do not call anyone an idiot.
More examples
漫才では、ぼけが意外な発言で笑いを生みます。man zai de wa bo ke ga i gai na hatsu gen de wara i o u mi ma su
In comedy routines, the fool creates laughter with unexpected remarks.
Core concept
Describes a person as foolish or lacking good sense, often in a blunt or insulting way.
Common phrases
ぼけとつっこみbo ke to tsu kko mi
the comic fool and the straight man
ぼけ役bo ke yaku
the comic fool role
Similar words
馬鹿baka: A person who lacks good sense or judgment and is often addressed as an insult.
間抜けmanuke: A person who is dull and misses simple points or makes obvious mistakes.
愚か者orokamono: A foolish person whose actions show little wisdom or careful thought.
とんまtonma: A person regarded as foolish and slow to understand what is happening.
Definition in Japanese
愚かな人や間の抜けた人を指していう、ぞんざいな語。oro ka na hito ya ma no nu ke ta hito o sa shi te i u zo n za i na go
Word origin
The noun ぼけ (boke) comes from ぼける (bokeru), "to become absent-minded or senile", and developed as an insult for a foolish person.
Usage tips
- In Japanese comedy, ボケ (boke) is the performer who makes the silly remark, so the word can name a comic role rather than directly insult someone.
Other meanings
- foolnoun
Opposites
- 利口rikōcleverna-adjective
- 賢いkashikoismarti-adjective
Related words
- ぼけ者bokeshafoolnoun
- ぼけっぷりbokeppurifoolishnessnoun