[[quoteright:142:[[{{Touhou}} http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tinycirno.jpg]]]]
[[quoteright:142:This trope's patron saint.]]
->''Honto ni anta tte Mattaku anta tte''
->You're really-- You're totally--
->''Tonikaku anta tte Baka ne, baka baka''
->By all means you're stupid, stupid stupid
-->-- Akane Tendo (Hidaka Noriko), "''Yasashii, Ii Ko ni Narenai'' (I Can't Become A Gentle, Good Girl)"


Japanese word for "idiot", "imbecile", "fool" or any other similar term; also frequently translated as "jerk". This is an all-purpose insult applied to persons who have done anything stupid, insensitive or thoughtless. Usually seen in the idiomatic phrase ''" no baka!"'', which is a favorite of {{Tsundere}}s across Japan.

Occasionally used as an insulting [[{{Honorifics}} honorific]]: ''Kuno-baka''.

Also employed as an endearment between couples, but the delivery differs -- when used affectionately, the word is drawn out instead of spat sharply. Being called ''"baka"'' by a new boyfriend/girlfriend while receiving a playful smack on the top of the head is considered a comforting sign of how well things are going.

Not to be confused with [[MoreDakka Dakka]]. See also IdiotCrows. Pretty much a given when the series involves an IdiotHero or two.

Written with kanji characters meaning "horse-deer", which puzzles everybody, Japanese or not. (Folk etymologies trace this to someone who can't tell the two apart, or possibly to a test to [[LikeAWeasel find yes-men]].) Though it's not a loanword, you'll often see it written in katakana for emphasis. Also means "cow" in Tagalog, not that it's terribly relevant. (Incidentally, ''vaca'' is Latin and Spanish for "cow". Not that ''that's'' relevant, either. ([[OverlyLongGag It also means "valley" in Hebrew and is the name of an upscale neighborhood of Jerusalem, not that that's relevant, either.]]))

"Baka" is a staple of FangirlJapanese. More and more, along with various {{honorifics}}, it appears [[GratuitousJapanese untranslated in English language manga]].

This word can sometimes take various forms:
*baka "Baka"
*o-baka "Great Baka"
*origami-tsuki no baka "Acknowledged (ie Got A Degree In) Baka"
*shosin shomei no baka "Down-right baka"
*sokonuke no baka "Botomless (ie Down And Out) Baka"
*akireta baka "Hopeless Baka"
*kamaboko-baka "Fish Cake Baka"
*tanjun-baka "Simple Baka"
*usura-baka "Dumb Baka"
*o-baka Santaro "Great Baka Santaro"

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!!Examples:

* The best known instance -- at least among anime fandom -- comes from Lum in ''UruseiYatsura'', who was fond of expressing her displeasure with Ataru by shouting ''"Darling no {{BAKA}}!"'' and jolting him with a lightning bolt.
* Similarly, in ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2]]'', Akane's frequent cry of ''"Ranma no baka!"'' (rendered in Viz' dubs as "Ranma, you jerk!") was practically her CatchPhrase, often delivered with a HyperspaceMallet for emphasis. In fact, Akane's original Japanese voice actress recorded an ImageSong that consisted [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QleyNcziqc0 almost entirely]] of calling Ranma ''"baka"'' over and over again for two minutes and thirty-eight seconds at a rate that made her sound like a [[MoreDakka machine gun]].
** So... [[TooDumbToLive More Baka]] instead of MoreDakka?
** And yet another ImageSong has her singing about "Obaka-san", just in case it didn't get through the first thousand times.
* ''InuYasha'' also has frequent arguments (Inuyasha and usually Kagome) consisting of nothing but calling other "Baka!". Goes straight into LargeHam territory when it does this.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtyGw7nUnjI BU-WAAAAAA-KAH!]]
*''{{Neon Genesis Evangelion}}'' gives us Asuka's ''"Baka-Shinji"'', and ''"Anta BAKA!?"'' (Approximately, "Are you stupid?!", translated in the Mexican dub as "Ahhhhh, you idiot!")
** Don't forget her nicknaming Shinji, Kensuke and Touji something along the lines of "san-baka-gumi" (literally "trio of idiots", but it's been rendered as "ThreeStooges" by official translators).
*In ''{{Martian Successor Nadesico}}'', [[LittleMissSnarker Ruri Hoshino]] gave us her CatchPhrase ''"Baka bakka"'' ("I'm SurroundedByIdiots").
*Quite appropriately, "''baka''" is the last word spoken in the last episode of ''ExcelSaga''.
* ''MahouSenseiNegima:'' The five girls with the lowest grades in Negi's class call themselves the "Baka Rangers", in obvious parody of ''SuperSentai''. Just to drive the point home, in the anime they sometimes actually wear the costumes.
**they even claim that being a baka is a power source during the dodgeball game arc in the manga. BAKA-POWER!

* Nanami frequently says "''Shine, baka!''" ("die, you idiot!") to Yano, whom she loves, before the two of them start dating in ''BokuraGaIta''.
* Makoto uses the word to insult Yuuichi in ''{{Kanon}}''.
* ''TsubasaReservoirChronicle'' includes an exchange on whether it is proper to use "baka" or "[[KansaiRegionalAccent aho]]".
* In ''CardcaptorSakura'', Syaoran Li calls Sakura both "baka" and "aho" numerous times, especially at the begining.
* The second opening theme to ''BoboboboBobobo'' is "Baka Survivor".
* Alti in ''{{Simoun}}'' always called Kaimu this as a child, because she couldn't think of any more clever insult to use.
* Tomari in ''KashimashiGirlMeetsGirl'' often calls Hazumu a "baka", both in a loving and annoyed fashion, indicating her confused feelings about her.
* In the [[AllThereInTheManual instruction manual]] for the ninth ''{{Touhou}} Project'' game, ''Phantasmagoria of Flower View'', in a [[http://pds6.egloos.com/pds/200712/08/23/d0052923_475aab3c1d0c7.jpg screenshot]] pointing out what each item was (i.e. ① Player character, ② Score, etc), TheDitz Cirno is labelled as "⑨ Baka". The circle nine (or "nineball") symbol was quickly and widely [[MemeticMutation adopted by the fanbase]] as both a synonym for "baka" and her nickname.
** She was also mocked for her uncharacteristically [[BulletHell easy-to-dodge]] spellcard, "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY_e-WoVIqU Icicle Fall -Easy-]]" in ''Embodiment of Scarlet Devil'', which has a safe spot ''that's big enough to drive a bus[[hottip:*:[[MemeticMutation there are no buses in Gensokyo]]]] through'' directly in front of her.
** And her TedBaxter tendencies.
** The chorus of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wFDWP5JwSM&fmt=18 Cirno's Perfect Math Class]]: "BA-KA, BA-KA! BA-KA, BA-KA! BA-KA, BA-KA!"
* Tomo in ''AzumangaDaioh'' is frequently referred to this by her more sensible friend Yomi. In one episode, Yomi calls her this, sending Tomo off on a tangent where she says "baka" over and over again in drawn-out, obnoxious tones. Eventually, Yomi [[RubberFace grabs her face]] to shut her up and shouts "Baka no omae da!" ("You're the stupid one!")
*''{{D Gray Man}}'' has "Baka Bak."
** Don't forget: "Baka moyashi" ("Stupid beansprout"), "Baka usagi" ("Stupid rabbit"), "Bakanda" ("Stupid Kanda"), and "Baka Lavi" ("Stupid Lavi").
* ''{{Sonic X}}'' uses this a bit, most notably in the last episode where Chris gets called it, repeatedly, for choosing to go home rather than stay in Sonic's world even though it may mean he never sees them again.
** Weird thing? It's actually kinda cute.
** Amy has a few "baka" scenes with Sonic, herself.
* Hakufu from ''IkkiTousen'' hates being called baka, even though it happens a lot [[IdiotHero with good reason]]. She usually responds by shouting "baka" back repeatedly.
* Video game example: Franziska von Karma from ''[[PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Phoenix Wright]]'' essentially says "baka" over and over in the Japanese version of the series when irritated. In the English version, [[YouFool she says "fool" instead ("You foolishly foolish fool with your foolish ideas of foolish tomfoolery. You're so foolish, you made even me sound like a foolhardy fool...")]].
* "Baka" is essentially [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Fakir]]'s CatchPhrase in ''PrincessTutu''. Both Mytho and Ahiru get called this by him constantly.
* In ''{{Pretear}}'' the word is usually used by [[RichBitch Mayune]] or [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Hayate]] towards Himeno, or by Himeno towards Hayate. One particular scene has Himeno and Hayate trading whole ''strings'' of "baka"s, with the [[CuteShotaroBoy three younger Knights]] standing nearby and just watching, unable to comment on the situation. This isn't always done for laughs -- in the last episode, Hayate calls Himeno this when she refuses to run away, while [[spoiler:he is dying in her arms, mortally injured in his attempt to protect her]]; her reply is that she is fine with being a "baka", because she doesn't want to lose him and other people she cares for. Near the end, Mayune calls her "baka" again, [[spoiler:accusing Himeno of being the only person to die]].
* Aoba Tsubaki of ''[[JinkiExtend Jinki Extend]]'' is nicknamed "Ahobaka" by Ryouhei. "Aho" is another word for "stupid" (it's sometimes translated as "jackass").
* In a ''{{Chobits}}'' PostEpisodeTrailer, Hideki is expounding on the significance of the "o-" prefix in Japanese, to which Chii adds ''"obaka-san!"''.
* A few villagers say this about [[TengenToppaGurrenLagann Kamina]] after his hot-blooded speech in episode 1: "Baka da... O-baka da... O-baka da...". Yoko also calls him "baka" quite a few times, understandably.eer.
* In ''{{Sailor Moon}}'', [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling Usagi's younger brother Shingo]] calls her "Baka Usagi".
* In a rare Western example, in ''[[{{Sixteen}} 6teen]],'' one of the catchphrases of the (presumably) Japanese owners of the mall's Super Terrific Sushi restaurant is "Baka no teenager".
* Teana of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' tends to use this term when addressing [[LesYay her partner]] Subaru, particularly when the GenkiGirl does something that annoys her. Given Teana's [[{{Tsundere}} personality]], this happens quite often...
* This Troper remembers the Nickelodeon ''{{I Carly}}'' movie, ''[=iGo=] to Japan'', featured a scene in which a couple of Japanese characters were arguing while one was driving a car. "Baka!" "Baka!" "Baka!"
* Sakura calls {{Naruto}} "Baka" at times.
** As does Sasuke.
** Hidan once used "BA-KA!" in battle.
* The Western live-action movie ''[[ThreeNinjas 3 Ninjas]] Kick Back'' has a Japanese character repeatedly call {{Mooks}} "Baka bouzu!"
* The ''RurouniKenshin'' version of [[TheShinsengumi Saitou]] favors "Ahou" (moron), a much more insulting version since it implies actual mental retardation.
* Jun-kun from ''WindyTales'' often bears the brunt from both Miki and Nao, who call him "baka" lots of times throughout the series. Sure, he is not the brightest bulb in the box, but you would expect that at least Miki would use the word lovingly, since she is his ''girlfriend'' -- [[{{Tsundere}} but usually she doesn't]].
* ''DeathNote'' has L's "Matsuda no baka", or "Matsuda, you idiot!" after he discovers that Matsuda's plan to expose the Yotsuba Kira has gotten him into hot water.
** Echoed in the final episode, when [[spoiler:Light screams something similar ("Baka yarou, Matsuda!" -- "You stupid bastard, Matsuda!") at Matsuda after being shot by him.]]
* The {{Tsundere}} Reo uses this a lot in the GirlsLove {{Eroge}} ''SonoHanabiraNiKuchizukeWo''. She even uses this during the love scenes!
* Excalibur from ''SoulEater'' likes to shout this at anyone, anytime, whether it makes sense or not.
* Shizuku from ''CandyBoy'' calls her older sister Kanade "baka neechan". She never calls Kanade's twin sister Yukino this way, which kind of gives away how Shizuku feels about either of them.
* Winry calls both [[FullmetalAlchemist Ed]] and Al "Baka" at times, and usually hits the insultee in the head with a wrench at the same time.
** It actually goes both ways with Ed and Winry. He calls her "Baka" plenty!
* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'', [[{{Tsundere}} England]] uses this often, including a time when he was drunk, shouting "baka, baka, America no baka!" [[WaterWorks in tears]] (referred to in an ImageSong of his with the last segment being somewhat similar to [[{{Ranma}} Akane's]] ImageSong mentioned above). [[NeatFreak Austria]] uses "obaka-san".
*[[{{Tsundere}} Louise]] from ''ZeroNoTsukaima'' has the titular character call her familiar, among other things, baka.
* Chiaki from ''{{Minami-ke}}'' almost never calls her sister, Kana, by her name. Instead, she calls her 'Baka' or 'Baka Yarou.' For that matter, she calls almost all her friends 'Baka.'
* In Toei's ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh}}!'' series, Miho slaps Honda and repeatedly calls him "baka" after he gets her super rare watch pickpocketed.
* In ''PandoraHearts'', Gilbert constantly calls Alice 'Baka-usagi', due to her transformed appearance being a huge [[GoAskAlice rabbit]] [[NightmareFuel with a scythe]].
* ''{{Ponyo On A Cliff By The Sea}}'' had Lisa [[MoreDakka firing off a barrage]] of bakas at Kōichi using an Aldis Lamp in the original Japanese.
* The eternally cheery Freddy from ''GhastlysGhastlyComic'' speaks odd pseudo-Japanese, with "baka" making up about 30% of "her" vocabulary.
* The epic, pulse-pounding finale of GunXSword features banter between Van and [[spoiler: Michael]] wherein they pretty much call each other "baka" over, and over, and over... and then there's The Claw Man's mini-epiphany when he talks to/fights Van: "I see, you're what they call a fool! (read: baka) I never knew fools could be so much fun!"
* This seems to be [[BlazBlue Noel Vermilion's]] favorite word at times. One of her lines in the True Ending is just yelling it at Ragna repeatedly.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* The WW2 Japanese Ohka (Cherry Blossom) anti-ship missile (basically a piloted rocket-propelled bomb) was referred to by the Americans as the "Baka" largely because it turned out to be much less effective than the Kamikaze Corps' conventional airplanes. (The key word here is "piloted". As in, the missiles had ''people'' inside of them in order to steer them.) Ironically, the Ohka's ineffectiveness was not due to its own capabilities (they were nearly impossible to shoot down and devastating when they actually hit) since most were lost when their mother planes were shot down well short of their launch points. (Naturally pilot training presented certain issues as well.)
**Don't be too fooled, a large impetus behind the "Baka" name was fear-effacing bravado. American sailors were genuinely terrified by the things.
* There's a story somewhere of a Marine who distracted a Japanese machine gun crew during the Battle of Guadalcanal by yelling "BAKA!" repeatedly (he'd heard it from a translator in the US) to distract them while another squad went and flanked the crew.
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