Discussion UsefulNotes / Baka

Examples:

Anime

• The best known instance — at least among anime fandom — comes from Lum in Urusei Yatsura, who was fond of expressing her displeasure with Ataru by shouting "Darling no BAKA!" and jolting him with a lightning bolt.
• Similarly, in 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 Hyperspace Mallet for emphasis. In fact, Akane's original Japanese voice actress recorded an Image Song that consisted 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 machine gun.
  • So... More Baka instead of More Dakka?
  • And yet another Image Song has her singing about "Obaka-san", just in case it didn't get through the first thousand times.
• Inu Yasha also has frequent arguments (usually between Inuyasha and Kagome) consisting of nothing but calling other "Baka!". Goes straight into Large Ham territory when it does this.
  • BU-WAAAAAA-KAH!
    • (Note that Inu Yasha, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura are all written by the same author, and this similarity between the three is the result of her Signature Style (the extreme use of Belligerent Sexual Tension).
  • Should also be noted that, during one of Kagome's well-deserved, "Osuwari!" bombardments, use of the word "Baka!" still triggered the Beads of Subjugation, 5 times in a row, in the span of less than a second.
• 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 "Three Stooges" by official translators).
• In Martian Successor Nadesico, Ruri Hoshino gave us her Catchphrase "Baka bakka" ("I'm Surrounded by Idiots").
• Quite appropriately, "baka" is the last word spoken in the last episode of Excel Saga.
• In the Boys' Love series Junjou Romantica, Takahashi Misaki frequently uses this in conjunction with Usagi-san's name. He also uses it on other members of the Usami family.
• Mahou Sensei Negima: The five girls with the lowest grades in Negi's class call themselves the "Baka Rangers", in obvious parody of Super Sentai. 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!
  • Taken to even more extremes in Negima!? in the The Stinger bits they get Super Sentai intros (except for Baka Pink) when they finely get some action in the third episode They Die.... Much much later they get resurrected by the Mad Scientist Satomi and it got weirder.
• Nanami frequently says "Shine, baka!" ("die, you idiot!") to Yano, whom she loves, before the two of them start dating in Bokura Ga Ita.
• Makoto uses the word to insult Yuuichi in Kanon.
• Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle includes an exchange on whether it is proper to use "baka" or "aho".
• In Cardcaptor Sakura, Syaoran Li calls Sakura both "baka" and "aho" numerous times, especially at the beginning.
• The second opening theme to Bobobobo Bobobo 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 Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl often calls Hazumu a "baka", both in a loving and annoyed fashion, indicating her confused feelings about her.
• Tomo in Azumanga Daioh 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 grabs her face to shut her up and shouts "Baka no omae da!" ("You're the stupid one!")
  • Then there's the second sports festival. At the scavenger-hunt race, Chiyo grabs the slip with her item on it... and it says "Baka". She chooses Tomo.
• D Gray Man has "Baka Bak."
  • Don't forget: "Baka moyashi" ("Stupid beansprout"), "Baka deshi" ("Stupid pupil"), "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.
  • Bokkun spams this word in everyday speech.
  • Amy has a few "baka" scenes with Sonic, herself.
    • I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Caliburn, translated in English as 'fool!'
• Hakufu from Ikki Tousen hates being called baka, even though it happens a lot with good reason. She usually responds by shouting "baka" back repeatedly.
• "Baka" is essentially Fakir's Catchphrase in Princess Tutu. Both Mytho and Ahiru get called this by him constantly.
• In Pretear the word is usually used by Mayune or Hayate towards Himeno, or by Himeno towards Hayate. One particular scene has Himeno and Hayate trading whole strings of "baka"s, with the 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 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, accusing Himeno of being the only person to die.
• Aoba Tsubaki of Jinki Extend is nicknamed "Ahobaka" by Ryouhei. "Aho" is another word for "stupid" (it's sometimes translated as "jackass").
• In a Chobits Post-Episode Trailer, Hideki is expounding on the significance of the "o-" prefix in Japanese, to which Chii adds "obaka-san!".
• A few villagers say this about 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.
  • Kittan also throws it around a few times, usually in reference to Kamina as well.
• In Sailor Moon, Usagi's younger brother Shingo calls her "Baka Usagi".
  • In the anime version the word gets tossed around during arguments between Usagi and Rei. One had usagi going "Baka baka baka baka baka".
• Teana of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha tends to use this term when addressing her partner Subaru, particularly when the Genki Girl does something that annoys her. Given Teana's personality, this happens quite often...
• Sakura calls Naruto "Baka" at times.
  • As does Sasuke.
    • Naruto got back at Sasuke one time by repeatedly calling him a "baka".
  • Hidan once used "BA-KA!" in battle.
• The Rurouni Kenshin version of Saitou favors "Ahou" (moron), a much more insulting version since it implies actual mental retardation.
  • Conversely, in modern Kansai usage, "Ahou" is closer to "Baka" in Standard Japanese. Witness the cast of Lovely Complex throwing "Ahou" around in wild abandon.
• Jun-kun from Windy Tales 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 — but usually she doesn't.
• Death Note 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 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 Girls' Love Eroge Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke Wo. She even uses this during the love scenes!
• Excalibur from Soul Eater likes to shout this at anyone, anytime, whether it makes sense or not.
• Shizuku from Candy Boy 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 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 Axis Powers Hetalia, England uses this often, including a time when he was drunk, shouting "baka, baka, America no baka!" in tears (referred to in an Image Song of his with the last segment being somewhat similar to Akane's Image Song mentioned above). Austria uses "obaka-san".
• Louise from Zero No Tsukaima 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 Pandora Hearts, Gilbert constantly calls Alice 'Baka-usagi', due to her transformed appearance being a huge rabbit with a scythe.
• The epic, pulse-pounding finale of Gun X Sword features banter between Van and 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!"
• In episode twenty-seven of the Ryuusei no Rockman/Mega Man Star Force anime, Subaru (Geo), after being told a lie that Warrock (Omega-Xis) killed his father, ends his partnership with the alien and tells him never to appear in front of him again. Before leaving, Warrock says that he learned from Subaru what humans call "friendship." This makes Subaru so confused and angry, he yells after him, "WARROCK NO BAKAYAROOOOOU!" (meaning "Warrock, you idiot!")
• The Twelve Kingdoms: Shoryuu refers to his Kirin, Enki, as Baka, as a Kirin resembles a horse and a deer - and to tease him.
• Miyamoto Musashi from Sengoku Basara (who's not that bright himself) has a habit of calling everyone he fights "BAKA" to varying degrees.
• Full Metal Panic: Kaname yells this at Sousuke all the time. In her defense, he really is pretty stupid when it comes to anything non-military related.
  • Gauron tends to drawl this as he's insulting his prey.
• Tales Of Symphonia: The anime adaptation. One is the affectionate "donk on the head and say 'baka' gently" variety, when Colette, as per usual, is assuming blame that's not hers, Lloyd does it, and it's a Crowning Moment Of Heartwarming. Later, Lloyd does the serious "Dumbass!" Kind, repeadedly, directed at himself, while punching himself in the face when he realizes Colette is losing her humanity. Cue Tear Jerker.
• Lampshaded in BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, when an American who speaks Surprisingly Good English flips his shit after realizing he'd just been called stupid.
• Umineko No Naku Koro Ni: Rosa often calls her daughter Maria "baka" when she's mad at her.
  • In the second arc, George's last words are inferred to be a pledge of love to Shannon. But Beatrice interrupts him before he can finish with "YOU THOUGHT I'D LET HIM SAY THAT?!" She even adds a drawn out "baka" on the end of the sentence.
• In Gakuen Alice, the main character's best friend makes an air-utilizing gun that uses baka as a sound effect and a model of a deer (or horse) hoof that has a name including baka and is used for a "baka." (She's a genius, of course. That's why she never has it used on her.)
• In Super Milk Chan, Milk regularly calls Tetsuko "bakattsura" ("stupid face").
• In Saiyuki, Goku gets called "bakazaru" ("stupid monkey") regularly by Gojyo and sometimes Sanzo.
• Baka To Test To Shokanju: It's in the freakin' title!
• In Kiddy Girl-and Q-feuille utters "Ascoeur no baka!" after she leaves her behind when teleporting out of their boss' office where they have been spying on her making out.
• In the Oh My Goddess! manga (the right-to-left version, anyway), this is Skuld's insult of choice when directed at her oldest sister, Urd. It really doesn't help matters that, by Chapter 51, she develops a power that allows her to stamp an interjection on her target's face.

Film

• The Western live-action movie 3 Ninjas Kick Back has a Japanese character repeatedly call Mooks "Baka bouzu!"
• Ponyo On A Cliff By The Sea had Lisa firing off a barrage of "Bakas" at Kōichi using an Aldis Lamp in the original Japanese.
  • She does a barrage of "BUG OFFs" in the English dub.

Literature

• It might be a stretch, but the Vorkosigan Saga has an example of sorts in the character Ivan, who practically has the phrase "you idiot" as part of his name, given the frequency with which he is called as such by others, especially his cousin, Miles. Ivan is actually Brilliant, but Lazy, but most people think of him as a rather dim Handsome Lech.

Live-Action TV

• The Nickelodeon iCarly 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!"
• Hiro Nakamura called himself "baka" in a season four episode.

Video Games

• In the instruction manual for the ninth Touhou Project game, Phantasmagoria of Flower View, in a screenshot◊ pointing out what each item was (i.e. ① Player character, ② Score, etc), The Ditz Cirno is labelled as "⑨ Baka". The circle nine (or "nineball") symbol was quickly and widely adopted by the fanbase as both a synonym for "baka" and her nickname.

  • But only the Touhou fanbase. Armored Core fans see a Nineball as something else entirely.

  • She was also mocked for her uncharacteristically easy-to-dodge spellcard, "Icicle Fall -Easy-" in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, which has a safe spot that's big enough to drive a bus*
    ^{there are no buses in Gensokyo}
    through directly in front of her.
  • And her Ted Baxter tendencies.
  • The chorus of Cirno's Perfect Math Class: "BA-KA, BA-KA! BA-KA, BA-KA! BA-KA, BA-KA!"
    • Recently, Touhou Hisoutensoku has indicated that the character Reiuji Utsuho may be canonically dumber than Cirno. For her lack, she has affectionately been attributed with the "sixball" to Cirno's "nineball."
      • The one character in the series who's shown to have the ability of using nuclear fusion is an idiot... uh oh....
    • There is a group in the Touhou fandom that believes that she is a genius and is merely Obfuscating Stupidity. Which is just silly, however.. there is evidence for this argument in the page image, look at the answers to the math problems. They're in Nonary, more commonly known as... wait for it... base 9.
• Yo-Jin-Bo is full of all six guys calling one another "baka" in the voiceovers.
• Franziska von Karma from Phoenix Wright essentially says "baka" over and over in the Japanese version of the series when irritated. In the English version, 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...").
• This seems to be Noel Vermilion's favorite word at times. One of her lines in the True Ending is just yelling it at Ragna repeatedly.
• Tear Grants from Tales of the Abyss sometimes calls Luke a "baka". In the English version she you idiot.

Web Comics

• The eternally cheery Freddy from Ghastlys Ghastly Comic speaks odd pseudo-Japanese, with "baka" making up about 30% of "her" vocabulary.
• Megatokyo uses this quite a bit, especially from Piro. It's usually directed towards himself, though on one occasion he interrupted Largo's FPS-related monologue with an in-game pistol to the head and the word "B4k4". One of his shirts has "B4k4^2", probably as a reference to Martian Successor Nadesico's "Baka bakka".

Western Animation

• In a rare Western example, 6teen, one of the catchphrases of the (presumably) Japanese owners of the mall's Super Terrific Sushi restaurant is "Baka no teenager".

Real Life

• The WW 2 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.) Shares the dubious distinction of killing more Japanese crewmen than enemy personnel with the kaiten piloted torpedo.
  • 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.

Hide / Show Replies

‘Baka’ does not mean ‘valley’ in Hebrew; that’s bik‘á. Nor is it an upscale neighbourhood in Jerusalem; that’s baq‘a. Huge difference.

Hide / Show Replies

Let's change the name in the "insulting honorific" example. It's a not-so-hidden Shout-Out to a show. As far as I know, such things don't belong in mains, hence "Alice and Bob" in Playing with a Trope sections.

"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."

I would also like to add another example of baka, a different use. Baka-yoke, literally "idiot-proof", used in engineering, similar to foolproofing in English. Of course, you know what they say about making something foolproof...

Hide / Show Replies

I don't see why this is a page with examples in it. Shouldn't it be one of those anime term pages like dandere or takahashi couple? Also, you can find the word baka used frequently in essentially anything Japanese.

Hide / Show Replies

Since this page is locked, can we remove the "this page should have no examples" notice from the bottom?

Now Bloggier than ever before! Hide / Show Replies

I find the page image of Cirno misleading. She's added up correctly in base 9!

The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls! Hide / Show Replies

Forum thread