“抽动”常见的英文表达有 tic、twitch 或 spasm,具体使用哪个词取决于语境:
tic:通常指习惯性或无意识的、反复的肌肉抽动或动作,常用于描述神经性疾病(如抽动症)中的症状。例如:
He has a facial tic that makes him blink rapidly. (他面部有抽动症状,导致他快速眨眼。)
Tourette's syndrome is characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations. (妥瑞氏综合征以不自主的抽动和发声为特征。)
twitch:更侧重于短暂的、突然的肌肉收缩或抽动,常用于描述非病理性的短暂动作。例如:
Her eye twitched nervously. (她的眼睛紧张地抽动了一下。)
I felt a twitch in my leg. (我感觉到腿上有一下抽动。)
spasm:通常指更强烈、更持久的肌肉痉挛或抽动,常与疼痛或疾病相关。例如:
He suffered from muscle spasms in his back. (他背部肌肉痉挛。)
A spasm of pain shot through her arm. (一阵剧痛从她的手臂传来。)
总结:描述神经性疾病中的抽动症状时,用 tic。
描述短暂的、非病理性的抽动时,用 twitch。
描述更强烈、持久的肌肉痉挛时,用 spasm。