眉毛 (méi mao) literally means 'eyebrow hair' — 眉 (méi) refers to the brow or eyebrow region above the eye, and 毛 (máo) means 'hair' or 'fur'. Together, they form the standard, neutral term for the strip of hair growing on the brow ridge. Unlike English, which treats 'eyebrow' as a single anatomical unit, Chinese compounds often emphasize composition — here, highlighting that eyebrows are made of fine hairs.

This word is used in everyday contexts: describing appearance ('She has thick eyebrows'), health discussions ('Eyebrow hair loss can indicate thyroid issues'), cosmetics ('eyebrow pencil' = 眉笔), and even idioms ('raising one's eyebrows' = 扬眉, expressing surprise or pride). It’s gender-neutral, formal enough for medical settings, and commonly taught early in anatomy vocabulary.