脑子

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Character Breakdown

Understanding 脑子 (nǎozi)

The word 脑子 literally means "brain" but is commonly used in everyday Chinese to refer to one's thinking ability or mental capacity. It often appears in informal speech to describe how smart or quick-witted someone is.

Common Uses

Collocations and Patterns

  • 脑子 (inside the brain/mind): used to talk about thoughts or ideas.
  • 脑子 (use the brain): often used to encourage thinking or cleverness.
  • 脑子使 (brain doesn’t work well): a colloquial way to say someone is not thinking clearly.

Tips

When using 脑子, it’s usually informal and conversational. Avoid using it in very formal writing unless referring literally to the brain organ. It can also be used humorously or critically to comment on someone’s mental state or decisions. Avoid confusing 脑子 with 脑袋, which is more physical (head) rather than mental capacity.

Example Sentences

He is very quick-witted and solves problems fast.

What are you thinking about?

Don’t just think with your brain, you also need to take action.