trẹo cổ
Definition
Noun:
- A crick in the neck / a stiff neck: A sudden, painful condition where the neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing difficulty and pain when turning or tilting the head. It is often caused by an awkward sleeping position, a sudden movement, or a draft of cold air.
Verb phrase (colloquial):
- To get a crick in one's neck / to have one's neck go stiff: To experience the sudden onset of a painful, stiff neck.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Sáng nay tôi bị trẹo cổ, quay đầu khó khăn quá. (This morning I have a crick in my neck; it's so hard to turn my head.)
- Ngủ sai tư thế dễ bị trẹo cổ lắm. (Sleeping in the wrong position can easily cause a stiff neck.)
Verb phrase:
- Tôi vừa trẹo cổ vì ngước nhìn máy bay quá lâu. (I just got a crick in my neck from looking up at the plane for too long.)
- Cẩn thận kẻo trẹo cổ đấy! (Be careful, or you'll get a stiff neck!)
Advanced Usage
- The term "trẹo cổ" is a common, everyday expression. In a formal medical context, the condition is referred to as "chứng vẹo cổ cấp" or "chứng cứng cổ" (acute torticollis).
Variants and Related Words
- Trẹo chân (v/n): To sprain one's ankle / a sprained ankle.
- Cô ấy bị trẹo chân khi đi giày cao gót. (She sprained her ankle while wearing high heels.)
Synonyms
- Crick in the neck: The most direct equivalent in English.
- Stiff neck: A general term for neck stiffness and pain.
- Torticollis: The formal medical term for the condition.
Related Idioms and Expressions
- Đau như trẹo cổ: (To hurt like a crick in the neck) – Used to emphasize a sharp, nagging pain, often in the neck or similarly sensitive area.
- Cái răng này nhức, đau như trẹo cổ vậy. (This tooth aches; it hurts like a crick in the neck.)