Definitions
stupid; idiotic
Etymology
About
The traditional character "騃" is structured with the semantic component 馬 (horse) and the phonetic component 矣, indicating an initial association with equine behavior, possibly implying slowness or placidity. Over time, its meaning shifted from describing such equine traits to denoting human foolishness or simplicity, as seen in classical texts. The character was simplified to "呆", which incorporates the components 口 (mouth) and 木 (tree) to represent dullness, reflecting a separate graphical evolution for the same concept.
Etymology Hide
