呆

獃
dāi
口 + 木
HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

dāi (adjective) blank; expressionless
dāi (adjective) foolish; stupid
dāi (verb) to stay; to remain

Etymology

Depicts the mouth (口) being stuck and not moving, like wood (木), representing someone stupid or expressionless.

About

The character 呆 consists of 口 (mouth) placed over 木 (wood), creating the image of a mouth as rigid and still as a block of wood. This symbolizes a stupid or expressionless person, giving meanings such as dull-witted, foolish, blank, or temporarily dazed. It later took on a colloquial verb meaning to stay or linger for a while.

Example Sentences Hide

他呆了一会儿。

Tā dāi le yīhuìr.

He stayed for a while.

他看起来有点呆。

Tā kàn qǐlái yǒudiǎn dāi.

He looks a bit foolish.

小猫呆萌地看着我。

Xiǎo māo dāiméng de kànzhe wǒ.

The kitten looks at me with a silly and cute expression.

他呆坐在椅子上不动。

Tā dāizuò zài yǐzi shàng bù dòng.

He sat blankly on the chair without moving.

听到这个消息，他呆住了。

Tīng dào zhège xiāoxi, tā dāizhù le.

Upon hearing this news, he was stunned.

他呆滞的目光让人担心。

Tā dāizhì de mùguāng ràng rén dānxīn.

His dull gaze makes people worried.

虽然他很聪明，但有时候表现得很呆。

Suīrán tā hěn cōngmíng, dàn yǒu shíhòu biǎoxiàn de hěn dāi.

Although he is very smart, sometimes he acts foolishly.

在关键时刻发呆，可能会导致严重的后果。

Zài guānjiàn shíkè fādāi, kěnéng huì dǎozhì yánzhòng de hòuguǒ.

Daydreaming at critical moments may lead to serious consequences.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

保 槑 襃

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 木

样 机 相 果 权 格 术 根 极 林 集 查 李 标

Example Words

发呆 呆子 天然呆 痴呆 呆住 呆傻 呆会儿 呆板 呆滞 呆瓜 呆若木鸡 呆萌 呆账 呆头呆脑 帅呆了 书呆子 痴呆症 目光呆滞 目瞪口呆 看呆 惊呆