HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
笨
bèn
foolish
HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
笨
bèn
silly
HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
笨
bèn
slow-witted
HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
笨
bèn
clumsy
HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
笨
bèn
stupid, foolish, dull, awkward
HSK 4, zg, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #1864, Medium
bèn(ben4) T4
1stupid
2foolish
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
笨bèn(ben4)
The character 笨 (bèn) refers to a lack of intelligence or understanding, often used to describe someone who is slow-witted, foolish, or clumsy. It can also describe actions that are awkward or inept. While it is often used in a light-hearted or teasing manner among friends, it can also carry a more serious connotation depending on the context.
Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#1864DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being called 笨 can sometimes be a term of endearment among friends, signifying a playful teasing rather than outright insult. It reflects the value placed on humility and camaraderie in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Think of 笨 as a 'bent' pencil, which doesn't write well and is clumsy to use. The character is composed of the bamboo radical (竹), suggesting something related to nature or simplicity, combined with the character for 'dull' (愚), enhancing the imagery of something that fails to perform well.
Meanings of 笨
bèn(ben4)
1stupid
2foolish
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 笨
笨Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1864Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 笨
Podcast: 笨
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AI Study Notes for 笨
Quick Contrast
笨 (bèn) vs 愚 (yú) — use 笨 for light-hearted teasing or clumsiness, while 愚 implies deeper foolishness or lack of wisdom.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 笨 as a 'bent' pencil, which doesn't write well and is clumsy to use. The character is composed of the bamboo radical (竹), suggesting something related to nature or simplicity, combined with the character for 'dull' (愚), enhancing the imagery of something that fails to perform well.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 笨, as it can be offensive if directed at someone in a serious manner. It's commonly used in informal contexts among friends but might be inappropriate in formal situations. Common collocations include 笨蛋 (bèn dàn), meaning 'fool' or 'idiot'.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 4, 笨 can be linked to other descriptive adjectives like 聪明 (cōng míng, smart) and 知道 (zhī dào, to know). Focus on using it in comparative structures, such as 'not as... as...' to enhance your conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being called 笨 can sometimes be a term of endearment among friends, signifying a playful teasing rather than outright insult. It reflects the value placed on humility and camaraderie in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 笨 with 愚 (yú), which also means 'foolish'. For example, saying someone is 愚 instead of 笨 can sound more severe. It's important to choose the appropriate word based on the context and relationship with the person.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 笨
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Practice writing 笨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 笨
笨 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我____手笨脚的，总挨训。
I'm always being told off for being so awkward.
Common Confusions with 笨
笨vs本
běn
Similar shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.
笨vs愚
yú
Both imply a lack of intelligence but used in different contexts.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "stupid"?
or
Usage Notes for 笨
Colloquial Usageregister
The word 笨 is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's lack of intelligence or clumsiness.
1
他真笨！
He is really stupid!
Overuse in Serious ContextsCommon Error
Avoid using 笨 in formal or serious contexts as it may come off as disrespectful.
1
在工作中，最好不说同事笨。
It's best not to call a colleague stupid at work.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他真____！
He is really stupid!
Example Sentences for 笨 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我笨手笨脚的，总挨训。
wǒ bèn shǒu bèn jiǎo de， ， zǒng āi。
I'm always being told off for being so awkward.
2
笨重的深色桌子上嵌有颜色较浅的木头。
bèn zhòng de shēn sè zhuō zǐ shàng qiàn yǒu yán sè jiào qiǎn de mù tóu。
The heavy dark table is inlaid with lighter wood.
3
你是专家，而我是个能力有限的愚笨牧师。
nǐ shì zhuān jiā， ， ér wǒ shì gè néng lì yǒu xiàn de yú bèn mù。
I'm a limited and obtuse clergyman while you're the expert.
4
亚历山德拉穿着那身过时的衣裳，显得臃肿笨拙。
yà lì shān dé lā chuān zháo nà shēn guò shí de yī cháng， ， xiǎn dé yōng zhǒng bèn。
Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing.
5
那家伙是个笨蛋。我自己做得都比他好。
nà jiā huǒ shì gè bèn dàn。 。 wǒ zì jǐ zuò dé dū bǐ tā。
The guy's a chump. I could do a better job myself.
6
我写的电视剧肯定一点儿不比那帮笨蛋写得差。
wǒ xiě de diàn shì jù kěn dìng yī diǎn ér bù bǐ nà bāng bèn dàn xiě dé chà。
I could write for TV as well as any of those goofs.
7
“那你就是个笨蛋，”她气冲冲地说。
“ “ nà nǐ jiù shì gè bèn，” dàn ，” tā qì chōng chōng。
"You're a fool, then," she said hotly.
8
但那就是那些笨蛋们想要的，给他们就是了。
dàn nà jiù shì nà xiē bèn dàn mén xiǎng yào de， ， gěi tā mén jiù shì。
But that is what the suckers want so you give it them.
9
他笨手笨脚地想抓住艾尔弗雷德的手臂。
tā bèn shǒu bèn jiǎo dì xiǎng zhuā zhù ài ěr fú léi dé de shǒu bì。
He was clumsily trying to grab at Alfred's arms.
10
一群大象缓慢而笨拙地穿过平原，朝水潭走去。
yī qún dà xiàng huǎn màn ér bèn zhuō dì chuān guò píng yuán， ， zhāo shuǐ tán zǒu。
A herd of elephants lolloped across the plains towards a watering hole.
Cultural Notes for 笨
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, calling someone 笨 (stupid) can sometimes be playful among friends. It’s often used in a teasing manner rather than as an insult.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being called 笨 can sometimes be a term of endearment among friends, signifying a playful teasing rather than outright insult. It reflects the value placed on humility and camaraderie in social interactions.
Word Family of 笨
Words Containing This Character17
笨bènstupid
笨蛋bèndànfool
笨拙bènzhuōclumsy
笨重bènzhòngheavy
愚笨stupid
笨手笨脚clumsy笨手笨腳
笨人fool
蠢笨stupid
笨鸟先飞lit. the clumsy bird flies early (idiom); fig. to work hard to compensate for one's limited abilities笨鳥先飛
粗笨awkward
呆笨dimwitted
拙笨clumsy
笨嘴拙舌clumsy in speech
笨瓜fool
笨货idiot笨貨
拙嘴笨舌lit. clumsy mouth and broken tongue (idiom); awkward speaker
笨口拙舌awkward in speech
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 笨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 笨
Some synonyms for 笨 include 愚蠢 (yú chǔn), which means 'foolish,' and 笨拙 (bèn zhuō), which means 'clumsy.' Each of these terms conveys a sense of lack of skill or intelligence, but they can have slightly different connotations.
Yes, 笨 is a common word in everyday Chinese and is often used in casual conversations. It can describe both people and things, such as when someone is struggling to understand a concept or when an action is performed awkwardly.
笨 (bèn) means 'stupid,' 'foolish,' or 'clumsy.' It describes someone who may not be quick-witted or may struggle with tasks that require intelligence or agility. This character is often used in both a literal and figurative sense.
You can use 笨 in a sentence like: '他真笨' (tā zhēn bèn), which translates to 'He is really stupid.' It can describe a person's lack of intelligence or clumsiness in actions. Remember to use it carefully, as it can be offensive when directed at someone.
While 笨 generally has negative connotations, in casual conversations among friends, it can be used affectionately or humorously.
Yes, 笨 can also describe actions or objects that are awkward or clumsy, such as 笨重 (bèn zhòng) for 'heavy' or 'cumbersome'.
You can say '不笨' (bù bèn), which directly translates to 'not stupid'.
