Ask John: How is Baka Spelled?

Question:
I was under the impression that the word “baka” was an original Japanese word, since there’s kanji for the word “baka.” But in anime, it’s written in katakana (Evangelion, Photon). Could you clarify this for me?

Answer:
As you’re aware, katakana is the Japanese alphabet most commonly associated with writing foreign words, names and words that are relatively new to the Japanese language. The word “baka,” which means “fool,” or “idiot,” is actually adopted from Chinese language- specifically the story “Zhi Lu Wei Ma” (Calling a Deer a Horse).

In the second century BC the powerful eunuch Zhao Gao presented a deer to the king, and called it a horse. An argument arose over whether the creature’s species, leading Zhao Gao to ask the king’s court to identify the animal. When Zhao Gao murdered the king of Qin and assumed power himself, he also executed all of the court officials that sided with the former king that had agreed with the king that the deer was actually a deer, not a horse.

The Japanese word “baka” is spelled with the characters for horse and deer. Occasionally anime and manga will even use the spelling of “baka” as a sight gag by briefly transforming a stupid character into a horse or deer to emphasize the character’s foolishness.

Because there seems to be a minor Japanese controversy over the origin and meaning of the kanji spelling of “baka,” anime characters may choose to use the more simple katakana spelling. The simplicity of the katakana spelling may also, conversely, characterize the characters using it. Photon and Karinka (of Steel Angel Kurumi) both use the simple katakana spelling of “baka.” Both of them are childish, simple-minded characters, so the use of a simple katakana spelling may be used to subtly reinforce their characterizations. In Evangelion, Asuka spells “baka” in katakana. As a foreigner, using the katakana spelling rather than the kanji may emphasize her foreign-ness and unfamiliarity with Japanese language.

Thanks to Shoy for assistance with this response.