Origin

This character combines the flesh radical 月 on the left, which marks it as a body part, with a sound component on the right that hints at the pronunciation. The sound element helps readers recognize this as "nou," while the flesh classifier immediately tells you it refers to something inside the body. Ancient Chinese physicians used this combination to create a character for the brain, one of the vital organs enclosed within the skull. Over time, the character extended to mean memory and mental function, since the brain is where thinking and remembering happen.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint).