‘发抖’ is a compound verb meaning 'to shiver' or 'to tremble', typically describing involuntary, rapid shaking of the body caused by cold, fear, anxiety, or strong emotion. The first character, 发 (fā), literally means 'to emit' or 'to manifest', while 抖 (dǒu) means 'to shake' or 'to tremble'. Together, they emphasize the onset or manifestation of trembling — not just the action itself, but its emergence as a physical response. It’s commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese and often appears with subjects like people, animals, or even objects in literary contexts.

This word is neutral in register and frequently appears in descriptive narration, dialogue, and health-related discussions (e.g., fever symptoms). Unlike more formal terms like 颤抖 (chàndǒu), 发抖 feels natural and immediate — you might hear it in everyday speech when someone says, ‘我冷得发抖’ (I’m shivering from the cold). It can also imply emotional vulnerability, especially when paired with context clues like facial expressions or situational tension.