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脑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脑nǎobrainHSK 3, n, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #1516, Hard
脑nǎomindHSK 3, n, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #1516, Hard
脑nǎoheadHSK 3, n, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #1516, Hard
脑nǎoessenceHSK 3, n, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #1516, Hard
nǎo(nao3) T3
  1. 1brain
  2. 2mind
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
脑(腦)nǎo(nao3)

The character 脑 (nǎo) refers to the brain, which is the organ responsible for thought and cognition. It can also signify the mind or essence of a person, often used in contexts discussing intelligence, thoughts, or mental processes.

Strokes10Radical⺼Frequency#1516DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the brain is often associated with wisdom and intelligence, reflected in idioms and proverbs that emphasize the importance of mental acuity. For instance, the saying '脑袋大' (nǎodài dà) suggests someone who is clever or has a lot of knowledge.

Memory Tip

Imagine a brain (the character 脑) that has a 'brainstorm' of ideas. The left part (肉) symbolizes flesh, reminding you of the brain's physicality, while the right part (脑) sounds like 'now'—as in, think about it now! Picture a brain filled with colorful ideas bursting forth.

Meanings of 脑

nǎo(nao3)
1brain
2mind
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 脑

脑Simplified
腦Traditional
10Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1516Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3

Podcast: 脑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 脑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 脑

Quick Contrast

脑 (nǎo) vs 思 (sī): Use 脑 when referring specifically to the physical brain, while 思 pertains to the act of thinking or thought processes.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a brain (the character 脑) that has a 'brainstorm' of ideas. The left part (肉) symbolizes flesh, reminding you of the brain's physicality, while the right part (脑) sounds like 'now'—as in, think about it now! Picture a brain filled with colorful ideas bursting forth.

Usage Notes

This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in discussions about psychology or health. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the second tone is crucial. Common collocations include '脑子' (nǎozi) meaning 'head' or 'brain'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 脑 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3-4 due to its use in expressions related to thinking and intelligence. Students should focus on using this character in context to reinforce its meanings and associations.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the brain is often associated with wisdom and intelligence, reflected in idioms and proverbs that emphasize the importance of mental acuity. For instance, the saying '脑袋大' (nǎodài dà) suggests someone who is clever or has a lot of knowledge.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脑 with similar characters like 习 (xí) or 了 (le). For example, saying '我有很多脑' (Wǒ yǒu hěn duō nǎo) instead of '我有很多想法' (Wǒ yǒu hěn duō xiǎngfǎ) can be incorrect, as it doesn't convey the intended meaning of 'ideas'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脑

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Etymology of 脑

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 腦. The brain is part of the body (⺼) composed of a system of pathways (巛) located inside of the skull (囟). The traditional component 巛 was removed for simplification.

Memory Hint

flesh

Semantic (meaning)⺼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 脑?

Decomposition of 脑

IDS Structure⿰⺼⿱亠凶
脑Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
亠tou2
top
凶xiong1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脑?

Write 脑

脑

Practice writing 脑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 脑

脑 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

电____开着。

The computer is on.

Example Sentences for 脑 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你可以将收藏的全部CD保存在电脑硬盘上。

nǐ kě yǐ jiāng shōu cáng de quán bùCD CD bǎo cún zài diàn nǎo yìng pán。

You can store your entire CD collection on the computer's hard drive.
2
不容置疑的事实是，电脑执行逻辑操作指令。

bù róng zhì yí de shì shí shì， ， diàn nǎo zhí háng luó jí cāo zuò zhǐ。

The indisputable fact is that computers carry out logical operations.
3
在他的脑海中这一想法变得越来越宏大。

zài tā de nǎo hǎi zhōng zhè yī xiǎng fǎ biàn dé yuè lái yuè hóng dà。

The glory of the idea blossomed in his mind.
4
据说黑客们已经开始传播一种新的电脑病毒。

jù shuō hēi kè mén yǐ jīng kāi shǐ chuán bō yī zhǒng xīn de diàn nǎo bìng dú。

Hackers are said to have started a computer virus.
5
球砸中他的脑袋，从而让他化解了一次射门。

qiú zá zhōng tā de nǎo dài， ， cóng ér ràng tā huà jiě le yī cì shè。

He saved one shot when the ball hit him on the head.
6
他终于起床了，头脑一片混沌。

tā zhōng yú qǐ chuáng le， ， tóu nǎo yī piàn hùn。

His mind was in a fog when he finally got up.
7
这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们事先仔细地讨论过。

zhè kě bù shì tóu nǎo yī rè zuò chū de jué dìng。 。 wǒ mén shì xiān zī xì dì tǎo lùn。

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
8
我绞尽脑汁，处心积虑，就是为了让他嫉妒。

wǒ jiǎo jìn nǎo zhī， ， chǔ xīn jī， lǜ ， jiù shì wéi le ràng tā。

I worked myself into frenzy plotting ways to make him jealous.
9
在纪录片《与恐龙同行》中可以看到最新的、更加生动的电脑特效技术。

zài jì lù piàn《 《 yǔ kǒng lóng tóng》 háng 》 zhōng kě yǐ kàn dào zuì、 xīn de 、 gēng jiā shēng dòng de diàn nǎo tè。

Recent, more dramatic use of CGI was seen in "Walking With Dinosaurs".
10
我有时会头脑发热，挥霍无度。

wǒ yǒu shí huì tóu nǎo fā rè， ， huī huò wú。

I can have a brainstorm and be very extravagant.

Cultural Notes for 脑

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the brain is often associated with wisdom and intelligence, reflected in idioms and proverbs that emphasize the importance of mental acuity. For instance, the saying '脑袋大' (nǎodài dà) suggests someone who is clever or has a lot of knowledge.

Word Family of 脑

Words Containing This Character20
电脑diànnǎocomputer電腦
脑nǎobrain腦
脑子nǎozibrains腦子
脑袋nǎodaihead腦袋
大脑dànǎobrain大腦
头脑tóunǎobrains頭腦
脑海nǎohǎithe mind腦海
首脑shǒunǎoleader首腦
脑筋nǎojīnbrains腦筋
脑震荡(med.) cerebral concussion腦震盪
脑门forehead腦門
脑力mental capacity腦力
后脑勺back of the head後腦勺
脑浆brains腦漿
脑壳skull腦殼
脑瘤brain tumor腦瘤
绞尽脑汁to rack one's brains絞盡腦汁
后脑hindbrain後腦
脑膜炎meningitis腦膜炎
个人电脑PC個人電腦
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 电脑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脑

It is pronounced as 'nǎo' with a rising tone, similar to asking a question.