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后脑 (hòu nǎo) — hindbrain (cerebellum and medulla oblongata)

Definition

Hindbrain — the back part of the brain containing the cerebellum and medulla, which controls breathing, heartbeat, and balance. An anatomical term; in everyday speech Chinese speakers more often say 后脑勺 for the back of the head.

noun
hindbrain (cerebellum and medulla oblongata)

Examples

  • 后脑。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de hòu nǎo.
    The doctor examined his hindbrain.
  • 后脑。
    hòu nǎo Kòng zhì zhe hū xī hé xīn tiào.
    The hindbrain controls breathing and heartbeat.
  • 后脑。
    Zhè cì shǒu shù shè jí hòu nǎo qū yù.
    This surgery involves the hindbrain area.

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.

后hòuback
脑nǎobrain

后" (back) + "脑" (brain) names the back part of the brain.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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 →
Appears in
Organs & Anatomy

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