脑筋

腦筋

nǎojīn

noun HSK 7-9 #9,905

Meanings

1 brain; mind; mental agility
2 way of thinking; ideas

Characters

muscle; tendon; sinew

Brain sinews — the mental muscles you use to think.

Examples

动动脑筋想一想。

Dòng dongnǎojīn xiǎng yī xiǎng.

Use your brain and think about it.

他脑筋转得很快。

Tā nǎojīn zhuǎn de hěnkuài.

He's quick-witted.

别在这种事上动脑筋。

Bié zài zhèzhǒng shì shàng dòngnǎojīn.

Don't waste your brainpower on this kind of thing.

Tips

usage

Common expressions: 动脑筋 (use one's brain), 脑筋急转弯 (brain teaser/riddle), 死脑筋 (stubborn/inflexible thinking). 脑筋 emphasizes mental agility, while 大脑 (dànǎo) is the physical brain.

Stroke Order

脑 nǎo

筋 jīn