English–Chinese

“idiot” in Chinese

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèn dàn

Example

你真是个笨蛋。nǐ zhēn shì gè bèn dàn

You're such an idiot.

Illustration for 笨蛋 (idiot)

How to say “idiot” in Chinese

“Idiot” in Chinese is 笨蛋 (bèn dàn).

A foolish person seen making slow, awkward, or thoughtless mistakes, with the label ranging from playful to scornful.

Full entry for 笨蛋: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 笨蛋

一两次失误不应该让你被当成笨蛋。yì liǎng cì shī wù bù yīng gāi ràng nǐ bèi dàng chéng bèn dàn

One or two mistakes should not lead people to regard you as an idiot.

Tips for using 笨蛋

  • Context matters more than the dictionary translation: laughter and a friendly relationship can soften the word, while a sharp voice can make it a real insult.

“idiot” in other languages