Japanese

ける

ぼける
Meaning: to grow senile; to become mentally slow; to play the funny man
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 呆ける 呆けない
Polite 呆けます 呆けません
Past 呆けた 呆けなかった
Polite + Past 呆けました 呆けませんでした
Te-form 呆けて 呆けなくて
Potential 呆けられる 呆けられない
Passive 呆けられる 呆けられない
Causative 呆けさせる 呆けさせない
Imperative 呆けろ 呆けるな

Handwriting

呆
け
る

Example

My grandfather is not at an age where he would grow senile yet.

Usage Notes

Commonly refers to the decline of mental faculties due to age. In the context of Japanese comedy (Manzai), it refers to the role of the person who says silly things.

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