脑筋

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

含义

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.

例句

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。
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。
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。

用法指南

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

语气: neutral/conversational

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal