bèn

foolish

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
⺮ meaning component

  Meaning component

zhú

  

bamboo

⺮ is a component form of .

本 sound component

  Sound component

běn

  

root

Evolution

笨 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
笨 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

bèn

foolish, stupid, dull; awkward; stupid; foolish; silly; slow-witted; clumsy

Most common words with 笨
Freq.
Word
Meaning

stupid

笨蛋

fool

笨拙

clumsy

笨重

heavy

愚笨

stupid