<p>书呆子 is most accurately translated as IYI (Intellectual yet idiot), a phrase coined by 
<a href="https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/09/16/the-intellectual-yet-idiot-by-nassim-nicholas-taleb/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nassim Taleb</a>. While "nerd" in modern English often refers to someone who is rusty in social skills. </p>

<p>迂夫子 is seldom used in modern Chinese. On those occasions they are used, it often refers to someone who adheres to strict moral code, sometimes in a way that embarrasses others. It is not a derogatory word, but sometimes used in a humorous tone. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-27T10:15:04.900Z
Thanks and the article is written in 1956 FYI.
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T10:23:46.197Z
2018-10-26T13:53:54.817Z
2018-10-26T13:53:54.817Z
John Z. Li
<p><strong>书呆子</strong> in modern language is more akin to:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>nerd</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>迂夫子</strong> is a good fit for:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>pedant</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>Dictionaries do seem to give <em>pedant</em> as the definition for both. You can check out <a href="http://www.91dub.com/search/%E4%B9%A6%E5%91%86%E5%AD%90?type=search" rel="nofollow noreferrer">91dub.com</a> to see some alternative definitions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T08:23:28.853Z
2018-10-26T08:23:28.853Z
Mou某
<p>书呆子 is more close to <strong><em>bookish</em></strong>. 书呆子 sometimes can be used as a neutral term, not necessary to be derogatory all the time. </p>

<p>迂夫子 is more <strong><em>padantic, stereotypical, and perhaps stubborn</em></strong>. 迂夫子 is obsolete already. It can never be positive or neutral in my opinion. I personally never heard of it in our daily communications. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T14:08:12.210Z
2018-10-27T00:33:41.697Z
2018-10-27T00:33:41.697Z
dan
<p>Both 书呆子 and 迂夫子 mean a pedant, and at least I know 书呆子 is usually used in derogatory tone.</p>

<p>I have never seen the word 迂夫子 until just now, and it seems to mean the same thing as 书呆子.</p>

<p>So I wonder if there is any difference. Is it also a derogatory word, or anything others that differ?</p>

<word-choice><difference><word>
What is the difference between 书呆子 and 迂夫子?
# What is the difference between 书呆子 and 迂夫子?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-26)

Both 书呆子 and 迂夫子 mean a pedant, and at least I know 书呆子 is usually used in derogatory tone.

I have never seen the word 迂夫子 until just now, and it seems to mean the same thing as 书呆子.

So I wonder if there is any difference. Is it also a derogatory word, or anything others that differ?

**Tags:** word-choice, difference, word


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

书呆子 is most accurately translated as IYI (Intellectual yet idiot), a phrase coined by
[Nassim Taleb](https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/09/16/the-intellectual-yet-idiot-by-nassim-nicholas-taleb/). While "nerd" in modern English often refers to someone who is rusty in social skills.

迂夫子 is seldom used in modern Chinese. On those occasions they are used, it often refers to someone who adheres to strict moral code, sometimes in a way that embarrasses others. It is not a derogatory word, but sometimes used in a humorous tone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks and the article is written in 1956 FYI.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-26. Score: 1

**书呆子** in modern language is more akin to:

> nerd

**迂夫子** is a good fit for:

> pedant

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Dictionaries do seem to give *pedant* as the definition for both. You can check out [91dub.com](http://www.91dub.com/search/%E4%B9%A6%E5%91%86%E5%AD%90?type=search) to see some alternative definitions.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-26. Score: 1

书呆子 is more close to ***bookish***. 书呆子 sometimes can be used as a neutral term, not necessary to be derogatory all the time.

迂夫子 is more ***padantic, stereotypical, and perhaps stubborn***. 迂夫子 is obsolete already. It can never be positive or neutral in my opinion. I personally never heard of it in our daily communications.


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