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Japanese · The Basics

ばか

baka

BAH-kah · /baka/

Idiot / dummy / stupid

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"fool / idiot"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The default Japanese insult, and the great east/west shibboleth: baka is the Tokyo word, aho is the Kansai (Osaka) word. In Tokyo baka can be genuinely cutting; in Osaka it lands harder than aho does. Softened endlessly by tone — a girlfriend swatting your arm going "baka!" is basically affection. Written 馬鹿, 莫迦, or バカ.

Heard in the wild

ばか、そっちじゃないよ。

Idiot, it's not that way.

Where it lands

Nationwide (the Tokyo-default insult); see aho for Kansai

Quick answers

What does "ばか" mean?
In Japanese, "ばか" means "Idiot / dummy / stupid". Literally it's "fool / idiot". The default Japanese insult, and the great east/west shibboleth: baka is the Tokyo word, aho is the Kansai (Osaka) word. In Tokyo baka can be genuinely cutting; in Osaka it lands harder than aho does. Softened endlessly by tone — a girlfriend swatting your arm going "baka!" is basically affection. Written 馬鹿, 莫迦, or バカ.
Is "ばか" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
How do you pronounce "ばか"?
Say it "BAH-kah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: baka.

Related in Japanese

あほ aho AH-ho Idiot / dummy (Kansai flavor — often affectionate) おっす ossu OHSS 'Sup / yo (rough male greeting) 馬鹿野郎 baka-yarō BAH-kah yah-ROH You stupid bastard / you goddamn idiot クソ野郎 kuso-yarō KOO-so yah-ROH Piece of shit / shitty bastard この野郎 kono-yarō KO-no yah-ROH Why you...! / you little...! ブス busu BOO-soo Ugly woman / dog

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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