A1 noun #5,000 most common

바보

babo

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

short

Writing 1/5

short

Speaking 1/5

short

Listening 1/5

short

What to Learn Next

Learn Next

멍청이 (meong-cheong-i - dummy/idiot - slightly stronger/more direct) 등신 (deung-sin - moron/idiot - more offensive)

Advanced

바보 같다 (ba-bo gat-da - to be foolish/like a fool) 바보짓 (ba-bo-jit - foolish act/behavior)

Examples by Level

1

그는 정말 바보 같아요. 단순한 것도 이해 못 해요.

He's really like a fool. He can't even understand simple things.

2

바보처럼 굴지 마! 네 행동 때문에 모두가 힘들어해.

Don't act like an idiot! Everyone is having a hard time because of your actions.

3

내가 어제 정말 바보 같은 실수를 저질렀어. 서류를 잘못 제출했지 뭐야.

I made a really foolish mistake yesterday. I submitted the wrong document.

4

그런 바보 같은 소리는 이제 그만해. 현실적으로 생각해야지.

Stop with those idiotic remarks now. You need to think realistically.

5

친구들이 나를 바보라고 놀려도, 나는 신경 쓰지 않아.

Even if my friends tease me and call me a fool, I don't care.

6

그 영화의 주인공은 항상 바보 같은 행동을 하지만, 결국엔 영웅이 돼.

The protagonist of that movie always acts foolishly, but in the end, becomes a hero.

7

네가 나를 바보로 아는구나? 나는 네가 생각하는 것보다 똑똑해.

Do you think I'm a fool? I'm smarter than you think.

8

바보 같은 계획인 줄 알았는데, 의외로 성공했어.

I thought it was a foolish plan, but it surprisingly succeeded.

1

바보처럼 굴지 마.

Don't act like a fool.

굴다 (to act, to behave) + 지 마 (don't do)

2

그는 바보가 아니야. 똑똑해.

He's not an idiot. He's smart.

아니다 (to not be) + 똑똑하다 (to be smart)

3

내가 바보 같은 실수를 했어.

I made a foolish mistake.

같은 (like, similar to) + 실수 (mistake) + 하다 (to do)

4

사랑에 빠지면 바보가 된다고들 하잖아.

They say you become a fool when you fall in love.

~다고들 하다 (they say that...) + 빠지다 (to fall into)

5

그 바보 같은 소리에 웃음이 터져 나왔다.

I burst out laughing at that silly sound.

소리 (sound) + 웃음이 터져 나오다 (to burst out laughing)

6

너 정말 바보야? 이걸 어떻게 몰라?

Are you really an idiot? How can you not know this?

정말 (really) + 어떻게 (how) + 모르다 (to not know)

7

바보 같은 계획인 줄 알았는데, 성공했어.

I thought it was a foolish plan, but it succeeded.

~인 줄 알다 (to think that it was...) + 성공하다 (to succeed)

8

때로는 바보처럼 단순하게 생각하는 게 좋을 때도 있어.

Sometimes, it's good to think simply, like a fool.

때로는 (sometimes) + 단순하게 (simply) + 생각하다 (to think)

Common Collocations

정말 바보 really foolish
완전 바보 complete idiot
큰 바보 big fool
바보 같은 짓 foolish act
바보처럼 굴다 act like a fool
바보 만들기 making someone a fool
바보 취급 treating someone like a fool
바보 상자 idiot box (TV)
바보 아닌 이상 unless you're an idiot
바보 연기 acting foolish

Common Phrases

너 바보니?

Are you a fool?

바보 아니야?

Aren't you a fool?

이 바보야!

You idiot!

바보 같은 소리 하지 마.

Don't say something so foolish.

난 바보가 아니야.

I'm not a fool.

바보같이 굴지 마.

Don't act foolishly.

그는 바보처럼 웃었다.

He laughed foolishly.

바보라도 알 수 있어.

Even a fool would know.

사랑에 빠진 바보.

A fool in love.

바보 온달과 평강공주.

Fool Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang (a famous Korean folk tale).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a **ba**by **bo**thering you endlessly. What a fool! So, **바보** (babo) means fool.

Visual Association

Picture a silly person wearing a dunce cap with the Korean word '바보' written on it. The person is making a goofy face, like 'babo'.

Word Web

멍청이 (meongcheongi) - dummy, idiot (similar, but perhaps a bit stronger) 어리석은 (eoriseogeun) - foolish (adjective form) 똑똑한 (ttokttokhan) - smart, clever (antonym) 친구 (chingu) - friend (you might playfully call a friend 'babo') 놀리다 (nollida) - to tease (you might tease someone by calling them 'babo')

Challenge

Try using '바보' in a sentence. For example, if someone does something silly, you could say '아이구, 바보!' (Aigu, babo!) meaning 'Oh dear, you fool!'. Or, '저는 바보가 아닙니다.' (Jeoneun baboga animnida.) meaning 'I am not a fool.'

Test Yourself 24 questions

writing A1

Translate the English sentence into Korean, using '바보': 'You are a fool.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

너는 바보야.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing A1

Complete the Korean sentence using '바보': '그는 정말 ___ 같아.' (He is really like an ___.)

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

그는 정말 바보 같아.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing A1

Write a short Korean sentence using '바보' to describe someone who made a silly mistake.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

제가 바보처럼 실수했어요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
reading A1

What did '나' (I) do yesterday?

Read this passage:

친구: 왜 그렇게 슬퍼 보여? 나: 내가 어제 정말 바보 같은 실수를 했어. 친구: 괜찮아, 누구나 실수할 수 있어.

What did '나' (I) do yesterday?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Made a foolish mistake.

The speaker said '내가 어제 정말 바보 같은 실수를 했어.' which means 'I made a really foolish mistake yesterday.'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Made a foolish mistake.

The speaker said '내가 어제 정말 바보 같은 실수를 했어.' which means 'I made a really foolish mistake yesterday.'

reading A1

What is the passage saying about Jisu?

Read this passage:

지수는 항상 너무 친절해서 가끔 바보 같아 보여요. 하지만 그녀는 사실 똑똑한 사람이에요.

What is the passage saying about Jisu?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: She seems like a fool because she is too kind, but she is actually smart.

The passage states '가끔 바보 같아 보여요' (sometimes seems like a fool) and '하지만 그녀는 사실 똑똑한 사람이에요' (but she is actually a smart person).

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: She seems like a fool because she is too kind, but she is actually smart.

The passage states '가끔 바보 같아 보여요' (sometimes seems like a fool) and '하지만 그녀는 사실 똑똑한 사람이에요' (but she is actually a smart person).

reading A1

Why does the student say they might get the answer wrong?

Read this passage:

선생님: 이 문제를 풀 수 있는 사람? 학생: 저요! 하지만 제가 좀 바보라서 답을 틀릴 수도 있어요. 선생님: 괜찮아, 노력하는 게 중요해.

Why does the student say they might get the answer wrong?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Because they think they are a bit foolish.

The student says '제가 좀 바보라서 답을 틀릴 수도 있어요' which means 'Because I'm a bit of a fool, I might get the answer wrong.'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Because they think they are a bit foolish.

The student says '제가 좀 바보라서 답을 틀릴 수도 있어요' which means 'Because I'm a bit of a fool, I might get the answer wrong.'

writing A2

You overheard someone say '쟤 바보 같아' (He's like a fool). How would you express surprise and mild disagreement in Korean, suggesting they might be mistaken?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

아니요, 바보 아니에요. (No, he's not a fool.)

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing A2

Imagine your friend is struggling with a simple task. How would you gently tease them by calling them a 'little fool' in Korean, using the word '바보'?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

아이구, 너 정말 바보 같아. (Oh dear, you're really like a fool.)

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing A2

You are explaining to a friend that someone made a silly mistake. How would you say in Korean, 'He made a mistake like a fool.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

그는 바보처럼 실수를 했어요. (He made a mistake like a fool.)

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
reading A2

Why did the speaker call their friend '바보같이'?

Read this passage:

친구가 잃어버린 지갑을 찾고 있었어요. 제가 '어디에 두었어?'라고 물었지만, 친구는 기억하지 못했어요. 저는 '바보같이 또 잊어버렸네!'라고 말했어요. (My friend was looking for his lost wallet. I asked, 'Where did you put it?' but my friend couldn't remember. I said, 'You forgot it again like a fool!')

Why did the speaker call their friend '바보같이'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Because the friend couldn't remember where they put the wallet.

The friend couldn't remember where they put their wallet, which is why the speaker used '바보같이' to express their forgetfulness.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Because the friend couldn't remember where they put the wallet.

The friend couldn't remember where they put their wallet, which is why the speaker used '바보같이' to express their forgetfulness.

reading A2

What is the friend trying to convey by saying '바보 아니야'?

Read this passage:

어제 시험이 너무 어려워서 제가 실수를 많이 했어요. 친구가 저에게 '괜찮아, 다음에는 더 잘할 수 있을 거야. 바보 아니야.'라고 위로해 줬어요. (Yesterday's test was so hard that I made many mistakes. My friend comforted me, saying, 'It's okay, you can do better next time. You're not a fool.')

What is the friend trying to convey by saying '바보 아니야'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: That the speaker is not a fool and should not be discouraged.

The friend is offering comfort and reassurance, indicating that making mistakes doesn't mean the speaker is a fool.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: That the speaker is not a fool and should not be discouraged.

The friend is offering comfort and reassurance, indicating that making mistakes doesn't mean the speaker is a fool.

reading A2

What does the speaker mean by '바보' in this context?

Read this passage:

저는 컴퓨터 사용이 좀 서툴러요. 그래서 가끔 '바보' 소리를 들어요. 하지만 배우려고 노력하고 있어요. (I'm a bit clumsy with computers. So sometimes I hear 'fool'. But I'm trying to learn.)

What does the speaker mean by '바보' in this context?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: They are not good at using computers and are called a 'fool' because of it.

The speaker mentions being clumsy with computers and sometimes hearing 'fool' as a result, indicating it's related to their lack of skill.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: They are not good at using computers and are called a 'fool' because of it.

The speaker mentions being clumsy with computers and sometimes hearing 'fool' as a result, indicating it's related to their lack of skill.

listening C2

He is not a fool. He is a smart person.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 바보가 아니에요. 똑똑한 사람이에요.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening C2

Don't act like a fool. Think carefully.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 바보처럼 행동하지 마세요. 신중하게 생각하세요.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening C2

Even a fool could solve this problem.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 어떤 바보라도 이 문제를 풀 수 있을 거예요.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

바보같이 굴지 말고 진지하게 임하세요.

Focus: 바보같이 굴지 말고

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

그는 바보라서 실수를 자주 합니다.

Focus: 바보라서 실수를 자주 합니다

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

이런 바보 같은 짓은 다시는 하지 마세요.

Focus: 바보 같은 짓은

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 자신이 바보라는 사실을 끝까지 부인했다.

This sentence means 'He denied the fact that he was a fool until the very end.' The correct order follows a typical Korean sentence structure of Subject-Object-Verb, with modifiers preceding the nouns they modify.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 아무리 어려운 상황에서도 바보처럼 좌절하지 않는 것이 중요하다.

This sentence translates to 'It is important not to get frustrated like a fool, no matter how difficult the situation.' The structure emphasizes the importance of not acting foolishly in challenging circumstances, with '아무리 ~에서도' (no matter how ~) initiating the conditional clause.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 그의 예측은 대부분 바보처럼 틀렸지만 어쩌다 한번은 맞았다.

This sentence means 'Most of his predictions were foolishly wrong, but occasionally one was right.' It contrasts the frequent foolishness with rare success, using '하지만' (but) to connect the two clauses.

/ 24 correct

Perfect score!

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