Usage Note
Baliw is used both clinically to mean mentally ill and colloquially to mean wildly excited, acting unreasonably, or deeply in love — as in 'baliw ako sa kanya' (I'm crazy about them). The casual use is very common in everyday speech and does not carry the clinical weight that 'insane' might in English. Context determines register.
Examples
" Baliw ako sa iyo. "
Natural Translation
I'm crazy about you.
Literal Translation
Crazy I about you.
" Baliw talaga siya sa basketball — hindi siya mapigilan. "
Natural Translation
He/She's absolutely crazy about basketball — there's no stopping him/her.
Literal Translation
Crazy really he/she about basketball — not he/she can-be-stopped.
" Akala ng iba baliw na siya nang magsimula siyang kumanta mag-isa sa gitna ng kalsada. "
Natural Translation
Others thought he had gone crazy when he started singing alone in the middle of the street.
Literal Translation
Thought of others crazy already he when started he to-sing alone at middle of street.
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