“腦子”這個詞在中文里用處不少,我們可以說一個人have brains“有腦子”,也就是說這個人有想法;我們也可以說一個人have not a brain in one’s head“沒腦子”,那就是說這個人想法太簡單、太單純。還有一類人我們可以說他們“死腦子”或“死腦筋”,意思是說這類人思想不靈活,不肯接受新事物。在英文里,就叫ROM brain。

ROM brain refers to a person who refuses to accept input and ideas from other people. It may also be someone who spews ideas and opinions but can’t seem to accept input from the outside world.

“只讀型大腦”指那些拒絕接受別人勸告或想法的人(相當于我們常說的“死腦筋”),也可以指四處發表見解卻不肯接受外界信息的人。

This idea stems from the computer term ROM (commonly known as read-only memory), a storage media where data cannot be modified, at least not very quickly or easily.

“死腦筋”之所以叫“ROM brain”是因為ROM在電腦術語中意為只讀,存儲在這一類別存儲媒介的數據一般是無法修改的,至少不能快速或輕易被修改。

For example:

He is not willing to take in any new ideas. A ROM brain indeed.

他不愿意接受任何新思想,是個地道的“死腦筋”。