呆
be amazed, disgusted, shocked
Readings
On'yomi
- ホウ
Kun'yomi
- ほけ.る
- ぼ.ける
- あき.れる
- おろか
Meaning
呆 centers on a stunned, blank reaction: being so amazed or shocked that you freeze up, or feeling disgusted to the point of speechlessness.
Most common words using 呆
20 of 34- 阿呆あほN1
fool; idiot; simpleton
- 呆れるあきれるN2
to be amazed; to be shocked; to be astonished; to be astounded; to be disgusted; to be exasperated; to be fed up
- 呆気ないあっけないN1
unsatisfying; disappointing; abrupt; not enough; too quick; too short; over too soon
- 呆然ぼうぜんN1
dumbfounded; overcome with surprise; in blank amazement; in a daze
- 痴呆ちほう
dementia
- 呆気らかんあっけらかん
unconcernedly; nonchalantly; indifferently; (looking) as if nothing has happened
- 呆ほう
(I'm) shocked
- 呆気あっけN1
being taken aback; state of shock; dumbfoundedness
- 阿呆らしいあほらしい
ridiculous
- 呆けるぼけるN1
to grow senile; to be childish with age
- ド阿呆ドあほ
total idiot
- 一読呆然いちどくぼうぜん
a (single) reading (a perusal) leaves one dumbfounded
- 呆れてものが言えないあきれてものがいえない
astonished beyond words; speechless out of shock
- 呆れ入るあきれいる
to be dumbfounded; to be amazed
- 呆れ果てるあきれはてる
to be flabbergasted; to be dumbfounded
- 呆れ笑いあきれわらい
laughing in astonishment (at something silly or stupid); scoff
- 呆れ返るあきれかえる
to be utterly amazed; to be stunned; to be disgusted
- 呆れ顔あきれがお
look of amazement; looking dumbfounded
- 呆気にとられるあっけにとられる
to be taken aback; to be astonished; to be dumbfounded
- 拳闘家痴呆けんとうかちほう
dementia pugilistica; boxer's dementia; punch-drunk syndrome
Study
Etymology
呆 is thought to combine 口 (mouth) and 木 (tree), but the exact historical development is uncertain. It may have originally depicted a person with a gaping mouth beside a tree, suggesting a dazed or stunned state.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a mouth 口 hanging open above a stiff wooden body 木: someone so amazed or disgusted they stand frozen like a tree, unable to speak.
Reading mnemonic
For ホウ, imagine a person so shocked they can only let out a hollow "hoo" sound: hoo -> ホウ, their mouth agape in disbelief.