quặn thắt
[kwan˧˨ʔ tʰat̚˧˦]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to be clenched or cramped with pain
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Trong một giây, tôi cảm thấy mắt tôi chợt tối đi. Trái tim tôi quặn thắt và rơi xuống một chỗ nào đó, rất xa, có thể là tận những đầu ngón chân.For a second, I felt my vision dimmed suddenly. My heart clenched and plunged into somewhere, which is very far away, probably to the tips of my toes.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “quặn thắt” mean?
(verb) to be clenched or cramped with pain
Is “quặn thắt” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.