伤脑筋

• Pinyin: shāng nǎo jīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 伤 = wound/harm; 脑 = 月 (flesh radical) + 囟 (fontanelle/brain top) = brain; 筋 = 竹 (bamboo) + 月 (flesh) + 力 (strength) = sinew/tendon — 伤脑筋: straining the brain-sinew; taxing one's mind to the point of frustration

Meaning

To be difficult or troublesome to deal with; to rack one's brains over a problem; said of a situation that requires considerable mental effort or causes frustration.

A colloquial expression describing a problem that is vexing or mentally taxing. Functions as a verb phrase (让人伤脑筋 — gives one a headache) or as a predicate adjective (这件事很伤脑筋 — this is really troublesome). Slightly less formal than 棘手, and often conveys mild exasperation rather than alarm.

Examples

1. 如何在有限的预算内完成这个涵盖多个地点的大型活动策划，确实让整个团队伤透了脑筋，讨论了将近一周才定下方案。 How to pull off this large-scale event plan covering multiple locations on a limited budget really had the whole team racking their brains; it took nearly a week of discussion before they settled on a plan.
2. 这道数学证明题逻辑层次极为复杂，即便是有多年教学经验的老师也觉得伤脑筋，一时找不到最简洁的讲解方式。 The logical structure of this math proof problem is extremely complex; even a teacher with years of experience finds it a headache and can’t immediately come up with the most concise way to explain it.
3. 家里的老人不肯接受任何数字化的缴费方式，坚持每月去营业厅排队交费，着实让子女们伤透了脑筋。 The elderly person at home refuses to use any digital payment method and insists on lining up at the service hall every month to pay bills, which has really had the children racking their brains.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, work, education, problem-solving

Tone: exasperated

Do Say

• 这次项目验收涉及的审批部门太多，每个环节都有不同的要求和格式，真是让负责统筹的同事伤透了脑筋，光协调工作就花了将近一个月。(This project acceptance review involved too many approving departments, each with different requirements and formats — the colleague responsible for coordination was truly at their wit's end, spending nearly a month on coordination alone.)
• 孩子突然对学了三年的钢琴彻底失去兴趣，家长既舍不得中断又不想强迫，这种两难局面真的让人伤脑筋，不知该如何是好。(The child has suddenly lost all interest in the piano they've been learning for three years — parents are reluctant to stop but also don't want to force them; this dilemma is a real headache, and they don't know what to do.)

Don't Say

• 这道题让我很伤脑筋了 — the 了 is redundant and awkward here; say 这道题真的让我很伤脑筋 or 这道题让我伤透了脑筋

Origin & History

伤 (to injure/harm) + 脑筋 (brain/mind, literally brain-sinew) = to injure one's brain; to tax one's mental capacity; colloquially: causing mental strain or frustration

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal