ging6 lyun4痙攣痉挛
Jyutpingging6 lyun4
Yalegihng lyùhn
Definition
Convulsion or spasm; involuntary muscle contraction.
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How it's used
While this term is technically accurate for medical convulsions, it is most frequently used in daily life to describe muscle cramps caused by fatigue or cold water. It carries a slightly clinical or formal tone compared to the more common colloquial term 抽筋. Use it when you want to sound more precise about the involuntary nature of the muscle contraction.
Examples
His leg suddenly went into a spasm, it hurt so much he couldn't move.
Did you get a leg cramp because you were swimming for too long?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 抽筋, but 抽筋 is the standard, everyday word for a cramp. Using 痙攣 in a casual conversation about a sports injury can sound overly serious or like you are describing a medical emergency.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
