绻 (quǎn) - Curled up & entwined

绻Tone 3

quǎn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

情仁

绻 · quǎn

Curled up;

entwined;

lingering attachment;

describes something coiled or a feeling of deep affection and reluctance to part.

Curled upentwinedlingering attachment

Usage highlights

Deep affectionLingering attachmentCurled up togetherEntwined feelingsReluctant to partCoiled posture

Synonyms

  • 蜷— to curl up; to coil
  • 缠— to entwine; to wind around
  • 恋— to love; to feel attached

Antonyms

  • 疏— distant; estranged
  • 离— to leave; to separate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cat curled up (蜷绻) on the sofa.
  • They expressed their deep affection (缱绻之情) for each other.
  • The vine entwined (缠绻) around the tree trunk.
  • A feeling of lingering attachment (绻恋) remained after their farewell.

Collocations

  • Deep affection(缱绻)
  • Lingering attachment(绻恋)
  • Curled up together(蜷绻)
  • Entwined feelings(缠绻)
  • Reluctant to part(绻绻不舍)
  • Coiled posture(绻缩)

Idioms

  • Deep affection and attachment(缱绻情深)
  • Lingering with tender feelings(情意绻绻)
  • Bound by deep affection(绻绻相依)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical Chinese poetry and literature to describe deep, lingering emotions, especially in romantic contexts.
  • Frequently appears in the compound 缱绻 (qiǎnquǎn), which conveys a sense of deep emotional attachment and reluctance to separate.
  • The character's silk radical (纟) suggests connections to threads or bonds, metaphorically extending to emotional ties.

FAQ