verb HSK 5
Traditional 顫動
chàn dòng
to tremble · to vibrate · to quiver · to shudder

Meaning

颤动 describes a rapid, often involuntary shaking or vibrating motion. It can refer to physical trembling (like leaves in wind, a hand shaking), emotional quivering (like a voice trembling with emotion), or mechanical vibration. The word carries a sense of slight, quick, repeated movement rather than large swaying.

Usage

颤动 is commonly used in both literal contexts (describing physical vibration or shaking) and figurative contexts (describing emotional states). It's often paired with body parts (手颤动, 声音颤动) or objects that vibrate. The word can describe both visible and felt movements. In literary writing, it frequently conveys emotional intensity or physical weakness.

Examples

  1. 01
    她的手因为紧张而颤动
    de shǒu yīn wèi jǐn zhāng ér chàn dòng.
    Her hands trembled due to nervousness.
  2. 02
    地震时整座楼都在颤动
    zhèn shí zhěng zuò lóu dōu zài chàn dòng.
    The entire building was shaking during the earthquake.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 颤动的声音
    chàn dòng de shēng yīn
    trembling voice
  • 心脏颤动
    xīn zàng chàn dòng
    heart palpitation
  • 轻微颤动
    qīng wēi chàn dòng
    slight trembling

Antonyms

Origin

The character 颤 combines the head radical with 战 (war/battle), suggesting the trembling associated with fear or cold. Combined with 动 (movement), it creates a compound emphasizing the shaking motion itself.

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