攣
crooked, bent
Readings
On'yomi
- レン
Kun'yomi
- つ.る
- ひ.く
Meaning
攣 centers on being physically twisted or pulled out of shape: crooked, bent, or contorted. The idea applies to limbs, objects, or anything drawn askew.
Most common words using 攣
- 痙攣けいれんN1
convulsion; cramp; spasm; tic; twitch; fit
- 攣てなえ
arm disability; someone with disabled arms
- 引っ攣りひっつり
scar
- 攣るつる
to cramp; to be cramped; to get a cramp (in)
- 攣れるつれる
to have a cramp
- 攣縮れんしゅく
spasm
- 気管支痙攣きかんしけいれん
bronchospasm; bronchial spasm
- 痙攣を起こすけいれんをおこす
to have convulsions
- 眼瞼痙攣がんけんけいれん
blepharospasm; spasmodic winking
- 胃痙攣いけいれん
gastrospasm; stomach spasm; stomach cramps
- 膣痙攣ちつけいれん
vaginismus; vaginal spasm
- 顔面痙攣がんめんけいれん
facial spasm; facial tic
Study
Etymology
攣 combines 手 (hand) with 䜌, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of twisting or binding. The character suggests a hand pulling something into a crooked shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 䜌 looks like tangled threads (言 and 糸 elements), and the bottom 手 is a hand. Imagine a hand pulling tangled threads so tightly that everything becomes crooked and bent.
Reading mnemonic
For レン, picture a hand bending a metal wrench until it's crooked: wrench -> レン, and the bent tool matches the kanji's meaning.