to twitch / shrug / flash
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to twitch
To make a short, quick, uncontrolled movement of a muscle or body part, often as a reaction to a stimulus, nervousness, or exhaustion.
Sein Augenlid begann unkontrolliert zu zucken.
His eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably.
The meaning of 'zucken' depends strongly on the subject of the sentence. If a body part is the subject, it means 'to twitch'. If a person 'mit den Achseln' zuckt, it means 'to shrug'. If 'Blitze' (lightning flashes) is the subject, it means 'to flash'.
Sein Mundwinkel zuckte nervös.
The corner of his mouth twitched nervously.
In the meaning 'to move uncontrollably', 'zucken' (to twitch) is often used with certain body parts. Typical examples are: 'das Augenlid zuckt' (the eyelid twitches), 'der Muskel zuckt' (the muscle twitches), or 'der Mundwinkel zuckt' (the corner of the mouth twitches).
Wenn ich müde bin, zuckt mein linkes Augenlid manchmal.
When I'm tired, my left eyelid sometimes twitches.
The expression 'mit den Achseln zucken' (to shrug one's shoulders) is a fixed unit. It expresses that someone doesn't know an answer, doesn't care about something, or is helpless.
Als ich ihn nach dem Weg fragte, zuckte er nur mit den Achseln.
When I asked him for directions, he just shrugged.
to tremble
'zittern' and 'zucken' both describe uncontrolled movements of the body. 'zittern' is a quick movement that can last for a while, for example because of cold, fear, or weakness. 'zucken' is usually only a short, sudden movement, often of a muscle, an eye, or a hand. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to something that is not controlled consciously. The important point is duration: if the movement is longer and repeated, 'zittern' fits. If it is short and sudden, 'zucken' fits.
Als die Tür plötzlich zuschlug, zuckte sie erschrocken zusammen.
When the door suddenly slammed shut, she flinched in fright.
Nach einer Stunde in der Kälte zitterte ich am ganzen Körper.
After an hour in the cold, my whole body was trembling.