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脑子 (nǎo zi) — brain (physical organ); mind, brains, intelligence (intellectual capacity)

Definition

脑子 is the everyday word for 'brains' — either the physical organ or, more often, someone's mental ability (动动脑子 = 'use your brain'). 脑袋 leans more toward the physical head, 大脑 is the formal/medical term for the organ.

noun
brain (physical organ)mindbrainsintelligence (intellectual capacity)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 脑子，。
    Tā nǎo zi shòu shāng le, xū yào zhù yuàn zhì liáo.
    He injured his brain and needs to be hospitalized for hospitalized treatment.
  • 脑子。
    Zhè jiàn shì xū yào nǐ dòng dòng nǎo zi.
    This matter requires you to use your brain.
  • 脑子，。
    Tā nǎo zi cōng ming, kǎo shì zǒng shì mǎn fēn.
    She is smart and always gets full marks on exams.

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nǎobrain
子zǐsuffix

脑 ('brain') combines with 子 to refer to the brain or mind.

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.

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

Open 子 →
Appears in
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