ging6痙痉
Jyutpingging6
Yalegihng
Definition
Spasm, convulsion, or fit.
neutralhealthbody
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in the compound 痙攣 to describe muscle cramps or medical spasms. It is rarely encountered as a standalone verb in daily speech, as native speakers prefer using the full two-character term even when describing a simple cramp. It carries a slightly clinical or formal tone compared to the more common colloquial way of saying someone has a cramp.
Examples
His leg suddenly went into a spasm.
Did you get a cramp while swimming?
Related words
Common phrases
spasm or cramp
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 抽筋, which is the much more common, everyday way to refer to a muscle cramp. Using 痙攣 in casual conversation is perfectly acceptable, but it sounds more like a medical diagnosis than a casual complaint about a sore muscle.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
