挛

攣

luán

亦 + 手

Definitions

luán (bound form) (of muscles) to cramp; to spasm

Etymology phono-semantic

hand

Semantic: 手

About

The traditional character 攣 is a phono-semantic compound: the hand radical 手/扌 (shǒu) at the bottom indicates grasping, pulling, or affliction of the limbs, while the phonetic 䜌 (luán) above means 'to tie or tangle' and suggests binding like twisted threads. Medically, it refers to involuntary muscle and tendon spasms or cramps that often cause the limbs to curl tightly and restrict movement. The simplified 挛 replaces the complex phonetic with a much simpler substitute, yet the character continues to describe muscular cramps, spasms, and the state of being closely bound or linked.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的腿痉挛了。

Tā de tuǐ jìngluán le.

His leg cramped.

运动后肌肉容易痉挛。

Yùndòng hòu jīròu róngyì jìngluán.

Muscles are prone to cramping after exercise.

医生治疗了他的面部痉挛。

Yīshēng zhìliáo le tā de miànbù jìngluán.

The doctor treated his facial spasm.

这种病会导致四肢挛缩。

Zhè zhǒng bìng huì dǎozhì sìzhī luánsuō.

This disease can cause limb contractures.

痉挛性疼痛让他难以入睡。

Jìngluánxìng téngtòng ràng tā nányǐ rùshuì.

The spasmodic pain made it difficult for him to fall asleep.

患者出现了全身性的痉挛症状。

Huànzhě chūxiàn le quánshēn xìng de jìngluán zhèngzhuàng.

The patient exhibited systemic spasm symptoms.

通过按摩可以缓解肌肉的挛急。

Tōngguò ànmó kěyǐ huǎnjiě jīròu de luánjí.

Massage can alleviate muscle twitching.

长期的神经压迫可能引起局部挛痹。

Chángqī de shénjīng yāpò kěnéng yǐnqǐ júbù luánbì.

Long-term nerve compression may cause local contracture and paralysis.

Related Characters

Component: 亦

Component: 手

Example Words