蜷 (quán) — to curl up, to huddle (of body or limbs)
Definition
Means 'to curl up / huddle' the body or limbs, usually tightly into a ball. Almost always used with 着 or in result constructions like 蜷成 (curl into).
verb
to curl upto huddle (of body or limbs)
Examples
- 蜷。Tā lěng dé quán chéng le yì tuán.He was so cold that he curled into a ball.
- 蜷。Xiǎo māo quán zài shā fā shàng shuì jiào.The kitten curled up on the sofa to sleep.
- 蜷。Tā quán zhe tuǐ zuò zài dì bǎn shàng kàn shū.She sat on the floor with her legs curled up, reading a book.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
蜷 uses 虫 to show an insect and 卷 to give the sound.
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