头疼脑热

頭疼腦熱

tóuténgnǎorè

idiom

Meanings

1 minor ailments; headaches and fevers
2 small health complaints

Characters

Examples

孩子难免会有头疼脑热的时候。

Háizi nánmiǎn huì yǒu tóu téng nǎo rè de shíhou.

Kids are bound to have little aches and fevers from time to time.

家里常备一些药，以防头疼脑热。

Jiā lǐ cháng bèi yīxiē yào, yǐfáng tóu téng nǎo rè.

Keep some medicine at home in case of minor illness.

老人家有点头疼脑热都不敢大意。

Lǎorénjiā yǒu diǎn tóu téng nǎo rè dōu bù gǎn dàyì.

With the elderly, even a slight ache or fever shouldn't be taken lightly.

Tips

history

Found in Sun Zhongzhang's (孙仲章) Yuan drama 《勘头巾》: '一百日以里，但有头疼脑热，都是你' — an early record of the phrase in everyday colloquial use.

register

Colloquial and warm — typical of parents, grandparents, or family context. Covers any minor illness, not just literal headache + fever. Common collocations: 有点头疼脑热, 头疼脑热的小毛病.

Stroke Order

头 tóu

疼 téng

脑 nǎo

热 rè