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針頭線腦

简针头线脑 · 繁針頭線腦

Mandarin · pinyin zhēn tóu xiàn nǎo

needle and thread
sewing implements
needlework
(fig.) unimportant thing

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Characters in this entry

針: Look up this written character
頭: tóu · head; top; chief, first; boss
線: Look up this written character
腦: Look up this written character
针: zhēn · needle; pin; tack; acupuncture
头: tóu · head; top; chief, first; boss
线: xiàn · line, thread, wire; clue
脑: nǎo · brain

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–2–4–3 · zhen1 tou2 xian4 nao3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

針頭線腦 · find source passages ↗ · 针头线脑 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zam1 tau4 sin3 nou5

Cantonese word readings for 針頭線腦. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(colloquial) odds and ends of sewing needs; needle and thread; sewing kit

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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