Baka

Part of a series on Otaku. [View Related Entries]

[View Related Sub-entries]

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

About

Baka is a Japanese word that directly translates to "fool" or any of its synonyms such as "idiot" and "moron." Online, the pejorative term has been used both ironically and unironically by Otakus and its detractors poking fun at anime culture alike.

Origin

Although the etymology of "baka" remains uncertain, some speculate that the word "baka" was first used in Chinese literature as early as in 246 B.C. However, the earliest known written usage of "baka" on record can be traced to an excerpt from the traditional historical epic Taiheiki which denotes bakamono (馬鹿者) being used as an insult in 1342 during the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) and the civil unrest between the Northern and Southern Courts. The definition of baka that is used today was thought to be used around 1663-1733, from the Sanskrit meaning “foolish.”^[1]

"Yoritō, probably inebriated, loudly demands to know what kind of fool (bakamono) has the temerity to order him to dismount."

Spread

While the term is predominantly used as an insult by the Japanese-speaking population, "baka" gradually became associated with a popular trope in manga and animes, often used by tsundere girls to insult those whom they have crush on. Also being the name of popular anime and songs; such as Baka to Test to Shōkanjū and Triple Baka. Multiple definitions of the word have been uploaded by users of Urban Dictionary since 2003.^[2]

Usage

Apart from being added into conversations to replace the english word 'idiot', 'baka' is also commonly used at the end of phrases meant to convey an unconvincing tone of repulse, often with a stuttering effect. Images of animals and people alike that have been manipulated with Photoshop to have anime-style eyes and blushes are associated with these phrases.

Tsundere Sharks

Tsundere Sharks is a photoshop meme in which photographs and illustrations of sharks are embellished with pink blushes and glowing anime eyes in the typical fashion of how tsundere characters are portrayed in anime.

Search Interest

External References

^[1] Wikipedia – Baka

^[2] Urban Dictionary – baka

Related Entries 16 total

View All Related Entries

Sub-entries 1 total

Baka In Our Own Voice

Recent Videos 1 total

+ Add a Video

Recent Images 1 total

Baka
Uploaded by Brad

+ Add an Image

Top Comments

Mr. Man

Jul 04, 2015 at 07:56AM EDT

What the b-b-b-baka did you just say about me, BAKA !? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my kurasu in chuunibyou, and I’ve been winkingly oblivious to numerous secret raids on my pantsu, and I have over 300 confirmed fanboy nosebleeds. I am trained in cosplay fanservice and I’m the most popular character on the entire show. You are nothing to me but just another baka hentai. I will wipe you the uguu out with fanservice the likes of which has never been seen before in this time slot, mark my ra-ri-ru-re-ro words. You think you can get away with being that ecchi to me over the Internet? Think again, baka. As we speak I am contacting my himitsu network of spies across the classroom and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, aho. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your social life. You’re going to die of embarrassment, kid. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the writers' zany plot devices and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable smirk off the face of the continent, you pervert. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little “clever” comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have kept quiet, ara ara. But you couldn’t, you didn’t, and now you’re paying the price, you triple baka. I will unleash moe all over you and you will drown in it. You’re going to sleep, kiddo.

+36