Japanese word

脳

Pronunciation

Romajinō

Meaning

  • nounbrain

Example

これは脳の絵です。ko re wa nō no e de su

This is a picture of the brain.

Illustration for 脳 (brain)

More examples

毎日、脳を使うパズルを解きます。mai nichi nō o tsuka u pa zu ru o to ki ma su

I solve puzzles that make me use my brain every day.

Core concept

Describes the organ that receives and processes information while directing the body's activities.

Common phrases

  • 脳が働くnō ga hatara ku

    the brain works

  • 脳を使うnō o tsuka u

    use one's brain

Similar words

脳みそnōmiso: An informal word for the organ that processes information and directs the body's activities.

Definition in Japanese

頭蓋骨の内側にあって、思考や記憶、感覚、体の動きをつかさどる器官。zu gai kotsu no uchi gawa ni a tte shi kō ya ki oku kan kaku karada no ugo ki o tsu ka sa do ru ki kan

Word origin

The noun 脳 (nō, "brain") consists of one kanji, 脳 (nō, "brain"), whose on'yomi reading nō was borrowed from Chinese and whose character meaning is "brain."

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, brain can also mean a person's intelligence, as in the phrase "a brilliant brain," not only the physical organ.

Word lists with this word