Definitions

nǎo (noun) brain
nǎo (noun) head

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 𡿺 represents the sound.

Semantic:

About

The character for "brain" in its traditional form, "腦", is structurally composed of the "flesh" radical (月) on the left, indicating its connection to the physical body, combined with a right-hand component that historically served a phonetic function while also carrying conceptual weight. This right component, depicting twisted hair or threads over a skull's fontanelle, originally emphasized the cranial cavity as the physical container of the organ. Over centuries, the character's focus gradually broadened from denoting solely the anatomical organ to encompassing its perceived functions, namely thought, intellect, and memory, reflecting a developing understanding of the brain's role. The modern simplified form, "脑", retains the flesh radical but replaces the complex phonetic element with the component "亠" and "凶", a change that streamlined writing while maintaining the character's core association with the head and its contents.

Example Sentences Hide

我用电工作。

Wǒ yòng diànnǎo gōngzuò.

I use a computer to work.

控制身体。

Dànǎo kòngzhì shēntǐ.

The brain controls the body.

我的袋很疼。

Wǒ de nǎodai hěn téng.

My head hurts a lot.

筋解决问题。

Dòng nǎojīn jiějué wèntí.

Use your brain to solve problems.

力劳动很重要。

Nǎolì láodòng hěn zhòngyào.

Mental labor is very important.

他的洞非常大。

Tā de nǎodòng fēicháng dà.

His imagination is very vast.

科学是前沿学科。

Nǎo kēxué shì qiányán xuékē.

Brain science is a frontier discipline.

研究表明大具有可塑性。

Yánjiū biǎomíng dànǎo jùyǒu kěsùxìng.

Research shows that the brain has plasticity.