(nǎo) — brain; brain-like substance

Definition

noun
brainbrain-like substance
Measure word ·

Examples

  • nǎo Shì fēi cháng fù zá de qì guān.
    The brain is a very complex organ.
  • Zhè zhǒng dòu fu de kǒu gǎn hěn xiàng nǎo huā.
    The texture of this tofu is very similar to brain.
  • Tā yīn wèi nǎo bù shòu shāng ér shī qù le jì yì.
    He lost his memory due to a brain injury.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

  • chuānhair
  • 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.

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