攣

The glyph denotes a state of being pulled tight, constricted, or distorted. Its senses generally fall into two categories:

1. External/Physical: Tangled, entwined, or twisted together.

2. Internal/Biological: Contracted, shrunken, or seized (e.g., spasms, convulsions, or the permanent bending of limbs due to shortened tendons).

The core nuance is one of tension and contraction.

Typically functions as a descriptive verb or adjective. It can describe either a process (the act of contracting or seizing up) or a state (being shrunken, deformed, or crooked).

• vs 結 (jié): 結 refers to the act of tying a knot or the resulting node; 攣 refers to the state of being constricted or pulled tight.
• vs 扭 (niǔ): 扭 implies a rotational twist or wrenching motion; 攣 implies an inward pulling, shrinking, or seizing.

Simplified variant: 挛 (U+631B).

The presence of the 弓 (bow) radical indicates a pulling-tight or stretching that forces a change in form.

The primary ambiguity is whether the "crookedness" is accidental/external (entwined like vines or threads) or structural/internal (a spasm or deformity). If the subject is biological, lean toward contraction or seizure; if the subject is inanimate or botanical, lean toward entwining. Metaphorical uses of "twistedness" are less common in early texts and should be treated with caution.