ngốc

See also: ngọc and Ngọc

Vietnamese

Etymology

Compare Chinese 呆 (ngai).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ŋəwk͡p̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ŋəwk͡p̚˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ŋəwk͡p̚˦˥]

Adjective

ngốc • (呆, 秃)

1. (formal, mildly derogatory) foolish; doltish
   • Nam quốc phương ngôn tục ngữ bị lục (南國方言俗語備錄 "Records of the Southern Nation's regional adages and common sayings"), 1914 version, 29a

     坤独空朋呆弹

     Khôn độc không bằng ngốc đàn.

     One smart person cannot match a foolish crowd.

2. (informal, mildly derogatory or endearing) dummy; dumb-dumb

   Chàng ngốc ― The Idiot (a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky)

See also

• ngu ngốc
• ngu (“dumb; stupid”)