curl up
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- 1 curl up、coil up
It describes a person or animal curling their body into a small, rounded shape.
curl up、coil up
To bend or coil one’s body inward, forming a compact, rounded shape.
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แมวนอนขดตัวบนโซฟา mɛɛw nɔɔn khòt tua bon soofaa The cat is curled up asleep on the sofa. แมวนอนขดตัวบนโซฟา details
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งูขดตัวอยู่ในโพรงไม้ ŋuu khòt tua yùu nay phrooŋ máay A snake is coiled up inside a hollow tree. งูขดตัวอยู่ในโพรงไม้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ขดตัว combines ขด, “to bend or wind into a curved or circular shape,” with ตัว, referring here to one’s body or self. Its core image is drawing the body inward as though winding it into a coil. With people, it often describes curling up because of cold, pain, or fear. With cats and dogs, it commonly describes lying curled up; with snakes, it means coiling up. Common patterns include ขดตัวอยู่, “to be curled up,” and ขดตัวนอน, “to lie or sleep curled up.” It is a normal everyday expression used in both speech and writing.
Usage
It is commonly used for someone curled up under a blanket, a cat or dog sleeping in a ball, or a snake lying in a coil. It can also describe a person drawing their body inward because of pain or fear.
Caution
Do not use ขดตัว for general shrinking or contraction; หดตัว is used for contracting muscles, shrinking materials, or a contracting economy. ขดตัว also emphasizes a curled body shape, so use นั่งยอง ๆ for simply squatting and หมอบ for crouching or lying low.