二百五

[ʐə̂ pǎɪ ǔ]number, slang, intelligence

What does 二百五 mean? 二百五 is a Chinese moderate that translates to “idiot / stupid person” in English.

two hundred fifty

01

"idiot / stupid person"

Slang for stupid person. Origin: ancient monetary unit or reference to historical figures.

你真是个二百五。(Nǐ zhēnshi ge èrbǎiwǔ.) - You're really an idiot.

Context

  • Casual conversations with friends
  • Informal settings where profanity is accepted

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

Common but impolite. Origin debated: may refer to half of '500' (complete idiot) or ancient currency units.

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