じんじん

じんじん
adverb
tingling; numbing; pins and needles
1. tingling; numbing; pins and needles
Describes the tingling or numbing sensation when circulation is cut off or returning, or from cold or injury.
正座(せいざ)をしていたら(あし)がじんじんしてきた。
My legs started tingling from sitting in seiza.
(さむ)くて()がじんじんする。
My hands are numb from the cold.
ぶつけた(ひじ)がじんじん(いた)む。
My elbow tingles with pain from bumping it.

じんじん is an onomatopoeic word for tingling or numbing sensations.

COMMON CAUSES:

  • 正座(せいざ) (sitting in seiza, legs fall asleep)
  • (さむ)さ (cold)
  • 血行(けっこう)不良(ふりょう) (poor circulation)
  • ぶつける (bumping, hitting)

CULTURAL NOTE:

  • Very commonly experienced in Japan due to seiza sitting
  • (あし)がしびれる is the standard way to say "my leg fell asleep"

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • しびれる: to go numb (verb)
  • ちくちく: prickling
  • ひりひり: stinging