头疼脑热

頭疼腦熱

tóuténg-nǎorè

idiom

Meanings

1 minor ailments; headaches and fevers
2 small health complaints

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

孩子难免会有头疼脑热的时候。

Háizi nánmiǎn huì yǒu tóuténgnǎorè de shíhou.

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

HSK 7-9

家里常备一些药，以防头疼脑热。

Jiālǐ cháng bèi yīxiē yào, yǐfáng tóuténgnǎorè.

Keep some medicine at home in case of minor illness.

HSK 7-9

老人家有点头疼脑热都不敢大意。

Lǎorénjiā yǒudiǎn tóuténgnǎorè 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