"baka ja nai" meaning?

Question

I was watching this drama and "baka ja nai" was translated as "are you stupid?" multiple times. But I thought "ja nai" meant "not/is not" so wouldn't "baka ja nai" mean "you're not stupid" or something? I think the correct way to say "are you stupid?" is "baka desu ka?" or "baka deshou", correct?

so then what does "baka ja nai" mean or am i missing something here?

Answer 1

"Baka ja nai" literally translates to "You are not stupid."



However, when said with a particular intonation pattern, it can serve the same purpose as "Are you stupid?"



I know this can be confusing. Don't think of it in terms of literal meaning. Think of it in cultural context.

Under the right circumstances, an American will say "Are you stupid?"

Under the same circumstances, a Japanese person will say "Baka ja nai?"

Answer 2

Meaning Of Baka

Answer 3

Let me put this more simple for you: "Baka ja nai" means "(I'm) not stupid". In this case, if you put a harder accent to the last "a" (Baka ja nái) THEN it'll mean that way.

However if you put a stronger accent to the third "a" (Baka já nai?) and say it like if it was a question, or if you were asking to someone, then it'll mean "aren't you stupid?"

Don't get confused, and you'll notice it right away if you listen to the tone of how it's pronounced!

Hope this helped!!

Answer 4

I'm a bit late but since everyone else seems to be wrong I'll hop in.



Baka janai バカじゃない literally means "you are not stupid." But translating it like that would be a stupid thing to do.



First off, baka バカ means "stupid". Ok.

desu です means "is", and dewanai / janai is the negative of desu, meaning "is not".



But here is the thing, when someone says baka janai they could be stating a fact "you are not stupid"

or they could be asking a question "baka janai ka?" or "baka janai no?"



in the latter, you'd be asking if someone is NOT stupid. Confirming if he is not stupid.



It's like saying "are you sure you aren't stupid?" Like if a vegetarian ordered meat you'd ask "aren't you a vegetarian?"



So that's where the nai in baka janai comes from.

Answer 5

That's strange.

I would say that baka janai would mean "you're not stupid". But if the question would be, "baka janai deshou?" would mean, "are you stupid?"

You did get it right, "ja nai" means not/ is not and baka is idiot.



ありがとう、

りざ

Answer 6

Yeah they are wrong. It meant i/he/she isnt stupid. Many times they translate wrong. Sometimes when they say nani its translated as ah/yes etc when it means what

Answer 7

Maybe they just screwed up with the translation.Because you are right about its meaning.Maybe it was said with irony in mind.

Answer 8

If it helps I know "baka" in Japanese is idiot ;)