How to say "ludicrous" in Japanese

• 馬鹿らしいばからしいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe common, everyday choice when 'ludicrous' simply means silly or foolish: an idea, remark, or plan so foolish that it is hardly worth taking seriously.
  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.
• ばかばかしいJLPT N1approx.
  i-adjectiveUse this when 'ludicrous' means laughably ridiculous: an idea or suggestion so absurd that it is laughable. It is less common than 馬鹿らしい, and is usually written in kana alone as ばかばかしい.
  ばかばかしいとしか言いいようがない。↗

  It is neither more nor less than absurd.
• 荒唐こうとう
  na-adjective, nounFor 'ludicrous' this is seldom the word you want: it really means 'nonsensical', typically describing talk, stories, or claims that simply make no sense, and it is less common than the other two.

For the plain 'silly or foolish' sense use the common 「馬鹿らしい」; for something laughably, utterly ridiculous pick 「ばかばかしい」; 荒唐, a less common word really meaning 'nonsensical', is only a marginal match for 'ludicrous'.

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

• 馬鹿らしいばからしいabsurd
• ばかばかしいabsurd
• 荒唐こうとうabsurd