Definitions

zhěn crooked; obstinate; twist a cord

Etymology

About

is a phono-semantic compound that originally denoted the physical act of twisting or wringing. It combines the silk radical (mì) and the phonetic component (zhěn, meaning 'thick hair'). The silk radical points to the manual twisting of threads or wringing of cloth. Over time, the meaning extended to twisting of the limbs and joints, often appearing in classical medical texts to describe a sprain or twisted muscle.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern