脑筋 (nǎo jīn) — brains, mind — intellectual capacity and mental sharpness; way of thinking, ideas

Definition

Refers to the mind or brain as the seat of thinking and ideas. Used in fixed phrases like 动脑筋 ('use your brain / think') and 伤脑筋 ('a headache, mentally taxing').

noun
brains, mind — intellectual capacity and mental sharpnessway of thinkingideas
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 脑筋，。
    Tā nǎo jīn hěn líng huó, zǒng néng xiǎng chū hǎo bàn fǎ.
    He's very sharp-minded and always comes up with good solutions.
  • ，。
    Zhè dào tí tài nán le, dà jiā lái dòng dòng nǎo jīn.
    This question is too hard — everyone put your thinking caps on.
  • 。
    Zhè xiē suǒ shì zhēn ràng rén shāng nǎo jīn.
    These trivial matters are really a headache.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

脑nǎobrain
筋jīnsinew

脑 (brain) and 筋 (sinew) combine to name the mind or mental capacity.

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 →

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

筋 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 𠛧 (peel), giving the idea of sinewy fibers from peeled bamboo.

Open 筋 →
Appears in
Organs & AnatomyThinking & Cognition

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.