ボケる · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | ボケる | ボケない |
| Polite | ボケます | ボケません |
| Past polite | ボケました | ボケませんでした |
| Past | ボケた | ボケなかった |
| Te-form | ボケて | ボケないで |
| Desire | ボケたい | ボケたくない |
| Potential | ボケられるalso ボケれる | ボケられないalso ボケれない |
| Passive | ボケられる | ボケられない |
| Causative | ボケさせる | ボケさせない |
| Causative passive | ボケさせられる | ボケさせられない |
| Volitional | ボケよう | |
| Polite volitional | ボケましょう | |
| Imperative | ボケろ | ボケるな |
| Conditional | ボケれば | ボケなければ |
| Tara conditional | ボケたら | ボケなかったら |
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
become senile; go dotty
Refers to age-related mental decline, memory loss, or childish behavior in the elderly. Often used seriously or sympathetically.
My grandfather seems to have become a little senile recently.
Anyone can become senile as they get older.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
be out of it; be spaced out; be slow on the uptake
Describes a temporary mental fog, confusion, or slowness, not necessarily age-related. Can be used for anyone who seems dazed or not thinking clearly.
I'm so sleep-deprived that my brain is foggy.
I was so out of it from the heat that I don't remember what was said to me.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
play dumb; act clueless; say something silly (on purpose)
Often used in comedy (manzai) or casual conversation when someone deliberately acts stupid or makes a silly remark for laughs. The 'straight man' (tsukkomi) role often points out the boke.
You're playing dumb again. What are you going to come out with this time?
He deliberately said something silly and made everyone laugh.
My grandmother became senile as she got older.
I'm out of it because I didn't get enough sleep.
He always makes people laugh by saying something silly.
呆ける (also read ぼける) means to become senile or absent-minded, whereas 暈ける refers to optical or visual blurring, not mental decline.
Kanji spelling; 惚 can imply being infatuated or in a daze. Less common than kana.
Rare kanji form specifically associated with senility; it is rarely used.