愚
foolish, folly, absurdity, stupid
Readings
On'yomi
- グ
Kun'yomi
- おろ.か
Meaning
愚 centers on a lack of good sense or judgment: foolishness, stupidity, or absurdity. It describes actions, ideas, or people that are unwise or irrational.
Most common words using 愚
20 of 93- 愚かおろかN1
foolish; stupid; silly
- 愚痴ぐちN2
idle complaint; grumble
- 愚ぐ
foolishness; silliness; stupidity; folly
- 愚痴るぐちる
to grumble; to gripe; to complain
- 愚か者おろかもの
fool
- 愚者ぐしゃ
fool; nitwit
- 愚行ぐこう
foolish act; folly
- 愚民ぐみん
(the) ignorant masses; untaught populace; unlearned people
- 愚図ぐず
dullard; indecisive person
- 愚弄ぐろう
mockery; derision; ridicule
- 愚直ぐちょく
simple honesty; tactless frankness
- 愚図るぐずる
to grumble; to be unsettled; to grizzle
- 愚姉ぐし
older sister
- 愚鈍ぐどん
stupid; dim-witted; dense; dull; obtuse; slow
- 愚意ぐい
(one's) humble opinion
- 愚劣ぐれつ
foolishness; stupidity; silliness
- 愚かしいおろかしい
foolish; stupid
- 愚問ぐもん
foolish question; stupid question
- 愚連隊ぐれんたい
gang of young toughs; hooligans; hoodlums; hoods; yobbos
- 愚策ぐさく
stupid plan; inane way of doing something
Study
Etymology
愚 combines 心 (heart/mind) with 禺, which likely contributes the sound and may have originally depicted a monkey or a foolish creature, together suggesting a foolish mind.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 禺 looks like a silly monkey, and the bottom 心 is the heart/mind. Picture a monkey's mind: foolish and making stupid choices.
Reading mnemonic
For グ, imagine a foolish person saying 'goo goo' like a baby: goo -> グ, and the monkey-minded person acts absurdly.