动脑筋 (dòng nǎo jīn) — to use one's brains; to rack one's brains; to think hard; to scheme; to plot to get something (often with a negative connotation)
Definition
动脑筋 literally means 'move one's brain' — i.e. think hard or rack one's brains. Often negative when paired with 歪: 别动歪脑筋 means 'don't scheme / don't get cunning ideas'.
verb
to use one's brainsto rack one's brainsto think hardto schemeto plot to get something (often with a negative connotation)
Examples
- ，动脑筋。Yù dào kùn nan shí, duō dòng nǎo jīn jiù néng zhǎo dào bàn fǎ.When you encounter difficulties, use your brains more and you will find a solution.
- ，。Tā dòng le bàn tiān nǎo jīn, zhōng yú xiǎng chū le yí gè hǎo zhǔ yì.He racked his brains for a long time and finally came up with a good idea.
- ，。Bié dòng wāi nǎo jīn xiǎng zhàn pián yi, yào tā tā shi shí gōng zuò.Don't scheme to get an advantage; work diligently and steadily.
Appears in
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