头脑

• 拼音: tóu nǎo
• 汉字拆解: 头 = simplified from 頭, 大 (big) + 頁 (head/page); 脑 = 月 (flesh/body) + simplified phonetic component from 腦

含义

Mind; brain; intellect. Refers to one's mental capacity or thinking ability.

Can refer to both the physical brain and abstract mental capability. Often used in expressions about intelligence or clarity of thought, such as 头脑清醒 (clear-headed) or 头脑简单 (simple-minded). Distinguished from 脑子, which is more colloquial.

例句

1. 他头脑很聪明，学什么都很快。
2. 遇到问题要保持头脑清醒。
3. 这件事需要有头脑的人来处理。

用法指南

语境: everyday, academic

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 做生意需要有头脑。(You need brains to do business.)
• 你的头脑很灵活。(You have a flexible mind.)

错误说法

• 我的头脑疼。(Don't use 头脑 for headaches — use 头 alone: 我头疼. 头脑 refers to mental capacity, not the physical head.)

起源与历史

头 means 'head' and 脑 means 'brain'. Together they refer to the organ of thought and, by extension, one's mental faculties.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal