颤 (chàn) - To tremble, to shake, to shiver & to vibrate, to quiver.

颤Tone 4

chàn ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

颤 · chàn

To tremble, to shake, to shiver;

to vibrate, to quiver.

To tremble, to shake, to shiverto vibrate, to quiver.

Usage highlights

To trembleTo vibrateTo shiverTo quiverTrembling voiceShivering with cold

Synonyms

  • 抖— to shake, to tremble
  • 战— to tremble, to shiver (as in 战栗)
  • 栗— to tremble (as in 战栗)

Antonyms

  • 稳— steady, stable
  • 定— calm, fixed

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • His voice trembled with emotion (声音颤抖).
  • The leaves shivered in the wind (树叶颤动).
  • She was shaking with fear (吓得打颤).
  • The old bridge vibrated as the truck passed (桥梁震颤).

Collocations

  • To tremble(颤抖)
  • To vibrate(颤动)
  • To shiver(打颤)
  • To quiver(颤悠)
  • Trembling voice(颤音)
  • Shivering with cold(寒颤)

Idioms

  • Trembling with fear, shaking with trepidation(胆颤心惊)
  • Shaking one's head and wagging one's brain(摇头颤脑)
  • A legacy that makes one tremble(惊颤遗风)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 颤 often conveys a physical or emotional state of instability or intense feeling.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, internal 'tremors' or palpitations (心颤) can be seen as signs of specific imbalances.
  • It is used in musical terminology, such as 颤音 (vibrato), describing a vocal or instrumental technique.

FAQ