脑筋

• Pinyin: nǎo jīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 脑 = 月(flesh) + brain components; 筋 = 竹(bamboo) + 月(flesh) + 力(strength) — tendon/sinew, the fibre of muscle and strength

Meaning

Brain; mind; wits; mental capacity; one's capacity for thinking and problem-solving.

Refers colloquially to one's mental agility and way of thinking. 动脑筋 (use your brain) is a very common expression. 脑筋急转弯 refers to lateral thinking riddles. Contrasts with the anatomical 大脑.

Examples

1. 解决这类问题需要动动脑筋，不能靠死记硬背，要学会举一反三。 Solving problems like this requires using your brain—you can’t rely on rote memorization; you need to learn how to apply what you’ve learned.
2. 这位老工匠的脑筋还是很灵活的，七十岁了还在不断钻研新技术。 That old craftsman is still sharp—at seventy, he’s still constantly studying new techniques.
3. 她做事总是不动脑筋，依赖直觉而非理性分析，结果吃了不少亏。 She always acts without thinking, relying on instinct instead of rational analysis, and as a result she’s suffered plenty of setbacks.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, education, colloquial expression, problem-solving

Tone: neutral/conversational

Do Say

• 这道数学题看起来简单，实际上需要好好动脑筋，一不小心就会掉入出题人设置的陷阱。(This math problem looks simple, but it actually requires careful thought — one moment of carelessness and you'll fall right into the trap the test-maker set.)
• 他脑筋转得很快，在谈判现场总能当机立断，给出令对方信服的答复。(His mind works very quickly — at the negotiating table he always makes decisive calls on the spot and gives replies that convince the other party.)

Don't Say

• 用'脑筋'替代'大脑'来指代解剖学意义上的器官 — 脑筋 is a colloquial term for mental capacity; for the anatomical organ, use 大脑

Origin & History

脑(brain) + 筋(tendon/sinew). The image of mental 'sinew' suggests the brain's structural capacity for work — one's mental 'muscle.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal