瘫痪 tānhuàn to suffer paralysis
(medicine) to suffer paralysis; (figuratively) to be paralyzed; to break down; to come to a standstill
How to remember 瘫痪: 瘫 paralysis + 痪 numbness = to suffer paralysis.
Characters
How it is used
- To be paralyzed - medically or figuratively - 全身瘫痪 (quánshēn tānhuàn) totally paralyzed; 交通瘫痪 (traffic at a standstill).
- Very common figuratively: a system, city, or network 瘫痪s when it seizes up and stops functioning.
- Distinguish medical 瘫痪 (loss of movement) from 麻痹 (mábì, numbness/complacency); the figurative 'grind to a halt' sense is everyday.