[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Intelligence # 笨 bèn stupid, dull; foolish ## Components [[本 běn]] [[⺮ (zhú)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "笨" (bèn) primarily conveys the meaning of "stupid" or "foolish" in modern usage. It describes someone who lacks intelligence or is slow-witted. Additionally, it can be used to describe something that is cumbersome or awkward. Overall, "笨" continues to signify a lack of mental acuity or clumsiness in contemporary Chinese language and culture. ## History The character "笨" refers to the inner layer of bamboo. Its original meaning is derived from the inner part of bamboo. "笨" also conveys the concept of heaviness, dullness, or lack of intelligence. It is often used to describe someone who is slow-witted or clumsy. The character is a compound ideograph, with the radical for "bamboo" representing its association with bamboo, and the phonetic component "本" indicating its pronunciation. Thus, "笨" originally referred to the inner membrane of bamboo, but metaphorically it implies stupidity or lack of intelligence. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[笨 bèn -sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[笨 bèn - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[笨 bèn -reg.svg]]