伤脑筋

• 拼音: shāng nǎo jīn
• 汉字拆解: 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

含义

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.

例句

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。
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。
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。

用法指南

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

语气: exasperated

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal