跔 (jū) - to curl up & to contract

跔Tone 1

jū ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

跔 · jū

to curl up;

to contract;

to shrink (especially of feet or limbs);

to be unable to stretch out due to cold or cramping.

to curl upto contractto shrink (especially of feet or limbs)

Usage highlights

curl up from coldfeet curlingshrink back in fearcramp and contractcurl up the bodyunable to stretch

Synonyms

  • 蜷— to curl up; to coil
  • 缩— to shrink; to contract
  • 卷— to roll up; to curl

Antonyms

  • 伸— to stretch; to extend
  • 展— to unfold; to spread out

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • His feet were so cold they curled up (脚冻跔了).
  • The cat contracted its body (猫跔着身子).
  • Muscle cramps made him unable to stretch his leg (腿抽筋跔住了).

Collocations

  • curl up from cold(冻跔)
  • feet curling(跔脚)
  • shrink back in fear(畏缩跔跔)
  • cramp and contract(抽筋跔缩)
  • curl up the body(跔身)
  • unable to stretch(伸展不跔)

Idioms

  • Curled up and unable to move(跔跔不前)
  • Shrinking back in fear(畏畏跔跔)
  • Feet curled from cold(天寒足跔)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character appears in classical texts describing physical reactions to cold or fear.
  • Often used in medical or physiological contexts to describe muscle contractions.
  • Rare in modern everyday vocabulary but preserved in some dialects and classical references.

FAQ