“脑子”这个词在中文里用处不少,我们可以说一个人have brains“有脑子”,也就是说这个人有想法;我们也可以说一个人have not a brain in one’s head“没脑子”,那就是说这个人想法太简单、太单纯。还有一类人我们可以说他们“死脑子”或“死脑筋”,意思是说这类人思想不灵活,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.

“只读型大脑”指那些拒绝接受别人劝告或想法的人(相当于我们常说的“死脑筋”),也可以指四处发表见解却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.

“死脑筋”之所以叫“ROM brain”是因为ROM在电脑术语中意为只读,存储在这一类别存储媒介的数据一般是无法修改的,至少不能快速或轻易被修改。

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,是个地道的“死脑筋”。