呆 dāi dull
dull; simple; stupid
How it came to be
A mouth sitting on top of a tree, with no ancient form behind it: the character is late. Speech coming out of a piece of timber: somebody as slow and dull as wood.
How it is used
- 'Blank, dazed, dull-witted' - 发呆 (fādāi) to space out, stare blankly; 呆呆地看 (dāidāi de kàn) gaze vacantly.
- 目瞪口呆 (mùdèng-kǒudāi) = dumbstruck.
- Colloquially also 'to stay/stick around' (same as 待): 呆在家里 (dāi zài jiā li) stay at home.