脑瓜子 (nǎo guā zǐ) — (colloquial) head, brains

Definition

Colloquial, playful word for 'head' or 'brains' — used in casual speech, not writing. Compare to the standard 脑袋 nǎodai.

noun
(colloquial) headbrains
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 脑瓜子，。
    Tā nǎo guā zǐ hěn cōng ming, shén me tí dōu huì zuò.
    He's got a smart head; he can solve any problem.
  • 脑瓜子，。
    Wǒ nǎo guā zǐ téng, xiǎng zǎo diǎn xiū xi.
    My head hurts; I want to rest early.
  • 脑瓜子？
    Nǐ nǎo guā zǐ lǐ dào dǐ zài xiǎng shén me?
    What on earth is going on in your head?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

脑瓜head
脑nǎobrain瓜guāmelon
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐ

脑 is brain and 瓜 suggests a melon-like round shape; 子 completes the colloquial word for the head.

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.

The shape of 瓜 is drawn from a melon hanging from its vines, which matches its meaning.

Open 瓜 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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