前脑 (qián nǎo) — forebrain

Definition

Forebrain — the front part of the brain, the earliest-developing region that handles cognition and sensory processing.

noun
forebrain

Examples

  • 前脑。
    qián nǎo Shì dà nǎo fā yù zuì zǎo de bù fen.
    The forebrain is the earliest part of the brain to develop.
  • 前脑。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le huàn zhě de qián nǎo.
    The doctor examined the patient's forebrain.
  • 前脑。
    qián nǎo Sǔn shāng huì yǐng xiǎng rèn zhī gōng néng.
    Damage to the forebrain can affect cognitive functions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

前qiánfront
脑nǎobrain

前 front and 脑 brain combine to mean the forebrain.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腦; 脑 is its simplified writing.

  • 匕匕bǐ
  • 巛巛chuānhair
  • 囟囟xìnhead; fontanel

In the traditional form 腦, the older part 匕 was replaced by a flesh part, while 巛 (hair) and 囟 (head; fontanel) stayed. The simplified 脑 is a later abbreviation.

Open 脑 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.