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脑力 (nǎo lì) — mental capability; brains

Definition

Literally 'brain power', referring to mental capacity or intellectual effort (as opposed to physical work or 体力). Often paired with verbs like 锻炼, 消耗, or 费 to talk about using or taxing one's mind.

noun
mental capabilitybrains

Examples

  • 脑力。
    Zhè fèn gōng zuò duì nǎo lì yāo qiú hěn gāo.
    This job requires a high level of mental capability.
  • ，脑力。
    Tā nián jì dà le, nǎo lì bù rú cóng qián le.
    He's getting older, and his mental faculties aren't what they used to be.
  • 脑力。
    Duō dú shū kě yǐ duàn liàn nǎo lì.
    Reading more can exercise your mental capability.

Origin

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 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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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