How to say "foolish" in Japanese

• 愚かおろかJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'foolish' in its most straightforward sense: lacking wisdom, sense, or good judgment. It evaluates a person, act, or decision as unwise, and suits serious, reflective statements about foolish behavior or choices.
  そんな愚おろかなことを言ゆうな。↗

  Do not say such foolish things.
• 間抜けまぬけCommon
  na-adjective, nounFoolish in a comical, dim-witted way: someone who looks or acts silly and slow to catch on. It suggests a goofy, laughable kind of foolishness rather than a serious failure of judgment.
• 馬鹿らしいばからしいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveFoolish in the sense of absurd or pointless: used when doing something is not worth the trouble, so the act itself seems silly. Often rendered as 'it is foolish (or silly) to...' about a wasted effort.
  彼女かのじょは馬鹿ばからしい質問しつもんをされていらいらした。↗

  She got rattled by the stupid question.
• 浅はかあさはかCommon
  na-adjectiveFoolish because shallow: describes thoughtless, short-sighted thinking or a superficial plan that fails to consider consequences. The foolishness lies in lack of depth, not in stupidity itself.
  私はあさはかにも彼かれが私を助たすけてくれるんだなあと思おもった。↗

  I foolishly imagined that he was going to help me.
• ばかJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThe everyday word for 'stupid; foolish; absurd', usually written in kana alone. It is broad and can be a direct insult when applied to a person, so take care in address, though it also describes foolish ideas and situations neutrally.
  なんという馬鹿ばかなことだろう。↗

  What a piece of folly!

Use 「愚か」 for a serious lack of wisdom or judgment, 「間抜け」 for comical silliness, 「馬鹿らしい」 for actions that are pointless or not worth doing, 「浅はか」 for shallow short-sighted thinking, and 「ばか」 as the everyday all-purpose word.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 愚かおろかfoolish
• 間抜けまぬけstupid
• 馬鹿らしいばからしいabsurd
• 浅はかあさはかshallow
• 暗愚あんぐfoolish
• 愚かしいおろかしいfoolish
• 愚にもつかないぐにもつかないfoolish
• ばかみたいfoolish
• はんかくさいfoolish
• フーリッシュfoolish
• たわいないsilly
• たわいもないsilly
• 馬鹿げたばかげたabsurd
• アホくさいridiculous
• たわいのないsilly
• 愚蒙ぐもうstupid
• 駑鈍どどんdull-witted
• ばかばかしいabsurd
• 埒もないらちもないincoherent
• ばかstupid
• つまらないabsurd
• 不肖ふしょうincompetent
• くだらないstupid
• しようのないfoolish
• ずっこけfoolish
• べらぼうabsurd
• つまらぬabsurd
• つまらんabsurd
• つたないunskillful
• おめでたいnaive
• くだらんstupid
• くだらぬstupid
• 半端はんぱirresponsible