Chinese word

呆

Pronunciation

Pinyindāi

Meaning

  • verbbe stunned

Example

听到消息他就呆了。tīng dào xiāo xī tā jiù dāi le

He was stunned when he heard the news.

Illustration for 呆 (be stunned)

More examples

我看她呆在窗前，一动不动。wǒ kàn tā dāi zài chuāng qián yí dòng bú dòng

I saw her standing dazed by the window, without moving at all.

Core concept

The mind seems briefly stuck between receiving something and responding, so the person looks stunned, bewildered, or absent-minded.

Common phrases

  • 呆住dāi zhù

    be rooted to the spot

  • 呆在原地dāi zài yuán dì

    stand dazed in place

  • 看得呆住kàn de dāi zhù

    be stunned by the sight

Similar words

发呆fā dāi: Remain still and absent-minded while gazing without focusing on anything.
呆住dāi zhù: Suddenly become unable to move, with the expression fixed by surprise.
走神zǒu shén: Let attention wander so that a conversation or task no longer holds focus.
惊呆jīng dāi: Be so greatly surprised that speech and movement stop for a moment.

Definition in Chinese

表示因走神、发愣或精神不集中而表现出神情恍惚、反应缓慢的状态，也可用来描述短暂停顿或发愣的一瞬间。biǎo shì yīn zǒu shén fā lèng huò jīng shén bù jí zhōng ér biǎo xiàn chū shén qíng huǎng hū fǎn yìng huǎn màn de zhuàng tài yě kě yòng lái miáo shù duǎn zàn tíng dùn huò fā lèng de yí shùn jiān

Word origin

The older sense of 呆 (dāi, "stunned or absent-minded") describes dullness or slowness, which naturally extends to a brief moment when the mind and response seem to stop.

Usage tips

  • English often makes a strong shock central to this idea, while ordinary Chinese conversation can use it for a much lighter pause.

Other meanings

  • be bewilderedverb
  • space outverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 发呆fā dāispace outverb
  • 呆板dāi bǎnstiffadjective
  • 呆滞dāi zhìsluggishadjective

Word lists with this word