痉 meaning and stroke order
Convulsions, fits
How to write 痉, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 痉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- spasm
How 痉 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Sickness.
疒 gives the meaning.
Radical: 疒 (sickness), shared by 127 characters on this site.
How to remember 痉
痉 (jìng) sits under the sickness radical 疒, the slanted roof of a sickbed. Picture a patient lying under that roof whose muscles suddenly tighten and jerk in a spasm.
痉 almost never appears alone. It is used in the word 痉挛 (jìngluán), meaning a spasm, cramp, or convulsion, in both medical and everyday speech. Example: 我的腿抽筋了，肌肉痉挛。(Wǒ de tuǐ chōujīn le, jīròu jìngluán.) My leg cramped up and the muscle went into a spasm.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side like 经 (jīng) because the parts look similar, and some also read it with first tone. Keep the 疒 frame, and say it with the falling fourth tone, jìng.
Common words with 痉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 痉挛 | jìngluán | to jerk; to contort |
Questions about 痉
How many strokes are in 痉?
痉 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 痉 mean?
痉 (jìng) means convulsions, fits. A common word with it is 痉挛 (jìngluán), meaning "to jerk; to contort".
How do you pronounce 痉?
痉 is pronounced jìng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 痉?
The radical of 痉 is 疒, which carries the idea of "sickness". Dictionaries list 痉 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 痉?
The traditional form of 痉 is 痙. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 痉 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 痉挛 and 抽筋?
痉挛 (jìngluán) is the more formal or medical word for a spasm or convulsion. 抽筋 (chōujīn) is the everyday colloquial word for a muscle cramp, like a leg cramp at night.
Can 痉挛 describe something other than muscles?
Yes. It can describe spasms of internal organs, such as 胃痉挛 (wèi jìngluán), stomach spasm. Writers also use it to describe a face or body twisting from strong pain or emotion.