头脑 tóunǎo brains
brains; mind; skull; (figuratively) gist (of a matter); leader; boss
How to remember 头脑: 头 head + 脑 brain = brains.
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How it is used
- The mind/brains as the faculty of thinking: 头脑清醒 (tóunǎo qīngxǐng) clear-headed, 有头脑 (yǒu tóunǎo) to be shrewd/have good sense.
- Figurative, about intelligence and judgment - not the physical organ (that's 大脑/脑子 for the literal brain).
- Idioms: 头脑发热 (act on impulse), 没头脑 (scatterbrained).