How to Write 呆 (dāi) — Meaning “dull; blank; to stay”

Imagine a person standing like a wooden tree (木) with their mouth (口) hanging open in a blank stare. This visual of a "dull" expression helps you remember 呆 means dull or blank.

Write the top box 口 first (three strokes), then the bottom 木: first the horizontal line, then vertical stroke, then left-falling stroke, and finally right-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the bottom 木 too wide — keep the vertical stroke centered under the mouth.

Compared to 古 (gǔ, ancient), 呆 has a 木 (tree) under the mouth instead of a ten-like shape (+). 卟 (bǔ, an archaic sound) uses a different bottom component that looks like a curved hook, while 呆 always has the straight wooden lower part. In usage, 呆 expresses dullness or blankness, while 古 refers to old times.

You often see 呆 in words like 发呆 (fā dāi) meaning "to stare blankly" — common when someone is daydreaming or shocked. 呆子 (dāi zi) is a mild insult for a foolish person, but it can also be used playfully among friends. The character carries a neutral-to-negative tone, describing a lack of alertness or intelligence.

Common words containing 呆 include: 发呆 (fā dāi) — To stare blankly; to daze; 呆子 (dāi zi) — fool; idiot; 吓呆 (xià dāi) — to be stunned with fear.