foolish

JLPT N1 7 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage of (dāi)

The character is often used to describe a state of being dazed, blank, or stunned rather than simply 'foolish'. It can describe someone who is momentarily lost in thought or unable to react promptly.

Common contexts

  • Describing a person who is staring blankly or lost in thought ().
  • Expressing a dazed or stunned facial expression (表情).
  • Used in commands to urge someone to stop being idle or inattentive ().

Collocations and patterns

  • + verb: describes doing something in a dazed or blank manner.
  • + noun: describes a dull or expressionless state.
  • : a common phrase telling someone not to stand there idly.

Nuance

Though sometimes translated as 'foolish', more often conveys a temporary mental state of being stunned or inattentive rather than a permanent lack of intelligence. Avoid confusing it with (shǎ), which more directly means 'stupid' or 'silly'.

Example Sentences

He stood there blankly staring into the distance, as if thinking about

Don’t just stand there dazed, hurry and help me move the stuff inside.

He looked dazed because he was too nervous.