‘蠢货’ (chǔn huò) is a vulgar, highly insulting noun meaning ‘idiot’ or ‘moron’. Literally, 蠢 means ‘stupid’ or ‘foolish’, and 货 originally meant ‘goods’ or ‘stuff’ but here functions as a dehumanizing suffix—similar to English terms like ‘piece of trash’—to belittle someone’s intelligence or character. The compound carries strong contempt and is rarely used in neutral or polite contexts.

This term is common in heated arguments, online trolling, or dramatic dialogue in films and novels. It reflects deep frustration or disdain and is considered offensive when directed at others in real life. While occasionally used jokingly among very close friends (with clear mutual understanding), such usage remains risky and context-dependent. Its tone is harsher than milder synonyms like 笨蛋 (bèn dàn) and closer in force to ‘asshole’ or ‘jerk’—but focused specifically on perceived stupidity.