Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Curled up, contracted, contorted: Describes a state where something, especially a body or limbs, is bent, twisted, or drawn into a tight, often uncomfortable, position. It often implies a reaction to cold, pain, fear, or a medical condition.
   • Cramped: Can describe a stiff, painful contraction of muscles.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa bé nằm co quắp trong chăn. (The child lay curled up in the blanket.)
  • Cô ấy đau bụng đến mức người co quắp lại. (Her stomach hurt so much that her body contorted.)
  • Những ngón tay co quắp vì giá rét. (Fingers curled up from the severe cold.)

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Physiological Context: Used to describe symptoms or postures related to illness, paralysis, or rigor mortis.
  • Sau cơn đột quỵ, bàn tay phải của ông ấy bị co quắp. (After the stroke, his right hand became contracted.)
• Figurative Use: Can describe something twisted or shriveled in appearance.
  • Những chiếc lá co quắp dưới cái nắng thiêu đốt. (The leaves were shriveled under the scorching sun.)

Variants and Related Words

• Co rúm (adj): Shriveled, curled up (often due to heat or dryness, or in fear). (The leaves are shriveled from the heat.)
• Co cứng (adj): Stiffened, rigid (often from cold or ). (The muscles stiffened up.)
• Quắp (verb): To curl, to clutch (often used for fingers or toes). (The finger curled.)

Synonyms

• Cong queo: Bent, twisted (can imply deformity).
• Rút lại: Contracted, drawn in.
• Quặp: Clenched, curled (similar to "quắp").

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Nằm co quắp: To lie curled up.
• Tay chân co quắp: Limbs are curled/contracted.
• Co quắp người lại: To curl one's body up.
• Chết co quắp: To die in a contorted/curled position.

Notes on Usage

• "Co quắp" strongly conveys an image of tight, involuntary, and often painful contraction. It is more intense than simply "co lại" (to curl up).
• It is commonly used in descriptions of physical states due to external factors (cold, pain) or internal conditions (illness, death).

1. Curled up
   • nằm co quắp vì lạnh
     to be curled up because of the cold
   • chân tay người chết co quắp
     the dead person's limbs were all curled up