head

Compared meaning: the mind, the ability to think and feel (noun).

比较义项：头脑、心智（思考、感受和记忆的能力）（名词）。

• mind

  Neutral, all-purpose word for the seat of thought and consciousness; works in both everyday and formal writing, without the informality of head or the organ-linked imagery of brain.

  语域中性、最通用的词，指思考和意识的所在；日常和正式场合都可使用，不像 head 那样口语化，也没有 brain 那种器官化的比喻色彩。

  Meditation helps clear my mind before an important exam.

  冥想有助于在重要考试前让我的头脑清醒。

• head 本词

  Informal, everyday word for the mind, common in casual idioms about thinking, worrying, or natural talent; less formal than mind and rarely used in academic writing.

  口语化、日常用词，指头脑，常见于关于思考、担心或天赋的习语中；比 mind 更随意，很少用于学术写作。

  He has a good head for numbers and never needs a calculator.

  他很有数字头脑，从不需要计算器。

• brain

  Emphasizes mental processing power or intelligence, often figuratively linked to the physical organ; common in idioms about hard thinking or effort.

  强调思维能力或智力，常带有与身体器官相关的比喻色彩；常见于表示费心思考或努力的习语中。

  I racked my brain all night trying to remember her name.

  我绞尽脑汁想了一整晚，试图想起她的名字。

• psyche

  Formal, often psychological or literary term for a person's deep inner mental and emotional life; used when discussing psychological effects, not casual daily thoughts.

  正式、常用于心理学或文学语境的词，指一个人内心深处的心理和情感世界；用于讨论心理影响，而非日常随意的想法。

  Years of harsh criticism left a lasting scar on his psyche.

  多年严厉的批评给他的心理留下了持久的创伤。

Mind, head, brain, and psyche all mean the mind. Mind is the neutral, general word. Head is informal, common in idioms about thinking or worry. Brain stresses mental power, often linked to the physical organ. Psyche is formal, used in psychology for someone's inner life.

这几个词都能表示头脑或心智，但语域和搭配不同：mind 最通用、语域中性；head 口语化，常见于习语；brain 强调思维能力，带器官化的比喻色彩；psyche 正式，偏心理学或文学语境。这里不比较 mind 的介意（动词）或改变主意等用法；不比较 head 的头部（身体部位）或领导、首脑等用法；不比较 brain 作为脑器官本身（医学意义）的用法。

Compared meaning: the person in charge of a group (noun).

比较义项：机构或团体的负责人、领导（名词）。

• head 本词

  General term for the person in charge of an organization, department, or team; common in everyday titles like 'head teacher' or 'head of department'; neutral register.

  泛指负责某机构、部门或团队的人；常用于日常头衔，如“head teacher”（教务主任）、“head of department”（部门主管）；语域中性。

  She was recently promoted to head of the marketing department.

  她最近被提升为市场部负责人。

• chief

  Implies a more formal or official position of authority, often in law enforcement, military, or traditional leadership; frequently used in fixed titles like 'chief of police'.

  带有更正式、更具官方权威色彩的意味，常见于警察、军队或传统部落的领导职位；常用于固定头衔，如“chief of police”（警察局长）。

  The chief of police announced new safety measures for the city.

  警察局长宣布了针对该市的新安全措施。

Head and chief both mean the person in charge of an organization. Head is neutral, common in titles like 'head teacher'. Chief is more formal, suggesting official authority, common in titles like 'chief of police'. Not compared: head meaning the body part.

head 和 chief 都可以指某个机构或团体的负责人，但语域和典型搭配不同：head 语气中性，常见于教育、企业等日常职衔；chief 语气更正式，常带有权威色彩，多见于警察、军队或部落等场合的固定头衔。这里不比较 head 的“头部”义项（如例句“她转头看是谁在叫她”所示）。

Compared meaning: to be in charge of a group (verb).

比较义项：引导、率领（团体/机构）（动词）。

• lead

  General, everyday word for guiding or being in charge of people, teams, projects, or activities; works with almost any group noun, from meetings to armies to negotiations.

  更通用、日常的词，表示引导或负责人员、团队、项目或活动；几乎可以搭配任何表示团体的名词，从会议到军队再到谈判都可以用。

  The senator will lead the negotiations between the two countries next week.

  这位参议员下周将主导两国之间的谈判。

• head 本词

  More formal word, typically used specifically for being the appointed chief of an organized institution, such as a department, school, company, or committee; suggests an official title rather than active guiding.

  更正式的词，通常特指担任某个有组织机构（部门、学校、公司、委员会）的负责人；强调的是正式头衔，而不是主动引导的动作。

  The professor has headed the biology department since 2015.

  这位教授自2015年以来一直担任生物系系主任。

Lead and head both mean to be in charge of a group. Lead is common and general, used for almost any group, from teams to armies. Head is more formal, meaning to be chief of a school or company. Not compared: head as body part.

这两个词在“负责、率领某个团体”这一义项上意思相近，但语体和搭配范围不同：lead 更口语化、适用范围广，可以带领团队、会议、谈判甚至军队；head 更正式，通常特指担任某个机构（部门、学校、公司）的正式负责人。这里不比较 head 作名词表示“头部”的意思，也不比较 lead 表示“领先”或“带路”的其他用法。