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頭脳 (ずのう, zunou) Japanese meaning: head | Kotomora

頭ず脳のう

ず

の

う

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

head; brains; mind

Refers to the brain as the organ of thought, or to intellectual capacity. Often used in contexts like 頭脳明晰 (clear-headed) or 頭脳労働 (brain work).

彼かれは明めい晰せきな頭ず脳

のう

の

持も

ち

主ぬし

だ

。

He has a clear, sharp mind.

頭ず脳のう労ろう働どうは体たい力りょくも必ひつ要ようだ。

Brain work also requires physical stamina.

2

intellect; intelligence; understanding

Emphasizes intellectual power, reasoning ability, or comprehension. Often used when evaluating someone's mental capacity or in phrases like 頭脳が優れている.

彼かの女じょは優すぐれた頭ず脳のうを持もっている。
She has a superior intellect.
この問もん題だいを解とくには柔じゅう軟なんな頭ず脳のうが必ひつ要ようだ。
Solving this problem requires a flexible mind.

Usage patterns

〈頭ず脳のう〉を使つかうto use one's brain/mind
この問もん題だいを解とくには頭ず脳のうを使つかう必ひつ要ようがある。
You need to use your brain to solve this problem.
〈頭ず脳のう〉が優すぐれているto have an excellent mind/intellect
彼かれは頭ず脳のうが優すぐれていて、いつも問もん題だいを早はやく解かい決けつする。
〈頭ず脳のう〉をフル回かい転てんさせるto rack one's brain; to think as hard as possible
難むずかしい試し験けんに向むけて頭ず脳のうをフル回かい転てんさせた。
I racked my brain in preparation for the difficult exam.

Kanji

頭head, counter for large animals
脳brain, memory

Related words

知ち能のうN3sense 2
知能 is the technical term for measurable intelligence (e.g. IQ or AI), while 頭脳 is the everyday word for mental capacity or brainpower.
脳のうN1sense 1
脳 refers to the physical brain organ in medical or biological contexts, while 頭脳 is the more abstract term for mind or intellect.
知ち性せいN1sense 2
知性 emphasizes refined reasoning or wisdom, whereas 頭脳 more broadly covers raw mental capacity or brainpower.
脳のうみそ
頭脳 is a formal word emphasizing intellectual capacity or brainpower, whereas 脳みそ refers casually to the physical brain (or, informally, one's stock of smarts).

Don't confuse with

脳のう裏り
頭脳 shares the kanji 脳 with 脳裏 but means brainpower or intellectual ability, not the mental space where images and memories appear.

Word family· 9

頭ず脳のう戦せん
battle of wits; psychological battle
頭ず脳のう線せん
head line (palm reading)
人じん工こう頭ず脳のう
artificial brain; computer
電でん子し頭ず脳

Etymology

Compound of 頭 (ず, head) and 脳 (のう, brain). The reading ず is the older go-on reading of 頭, while のう is the kan-on reading of 脳. The word has been used since at least the Edo period to mean both the physical brain and intellectual capacity.

He has an excellent mind and always solves problems quickly.

のう

electronic brain; computer (dated)

頭ず脳のう労ろう働どう

brain work; mental work; nonmanual labor

Show 4 more

頭ず脳のう明めい晰せき
clearheaded; sharp-minded; brilliant mind
頭ず脳のう流りゅう出しゅつ
brain drain; outflow of talent
頭ず脳のう集しゅう団だん
think tank; brain trust
頭ず脳のう労ろう働どう者しゃ
brain worker; white-collar worker; mental worker