When we talk about experiencing a toothache in Chinese, we use the phrase 牙疼 (yá téng). This literally translates to 'tooth pain'.
It's straightforward to use: you simply say you 'have toothache'. Unlike English, where you might say 'my tooth aches', in Chinese, you directly state the condition.
For example, if you want to say 'I have a toothache', you would say 我牙疼 (wǒ yá téng). It’s a very practical and common phrase to know.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Let's break down the Chinese word for 'toothache': 牙疼 (yáténg). This is a really practical word to know, especially if you ever find yourself needing to describe this common discomfort in Chinese. It's direct, easy to understand, and widely used.
- DEFINITION
- To have a toothache.
The word 牙疼 (yáténg) is made up of two characters:
- 牙 (yá): This character means 'tooth' or 'teeth'. You'll see it in many other tooth-related words.
- 疼 (téng): This character means 'pain' or 'ache'. It's a very common character for describing any kind of physical pain.
So, when you put them together, 牙疼 literally translates to 'tooth pain' or 'tooth ache', which is exactly what it means. It's used as a verb phrase, meaning 'to have a toothache'. You don't need another verb like 有 (yǒu) 'to have' before it; 牙疼 itself already conveys 'to have a toothache'.
You'll use 牙疼 in any situation where you need to talk about, well, a toothache! This could be:
- Describing your own pain to a friend or doctor.
- Asking someone if they have a toothache.
- Explaining why you can't eat certain foods.
It's one of those essential health-related vocabulary words. Think about it: if you're traveling or living in a Chinese-speaking environment, and you get a toothache, this is the first thing you'll need to say. It's straightforward and gets the point across immediately.
Let's look at some examples to see how it works in sentences. Notice how direct and simple the usage is.
我牙疼了。
Translation hint: 我 (wǒ - I) 牙疼 (yáténg - have a toothache) 了 (le - particle indicating a change of state).
This simply means: "I have a toothache now." or "My tooth started aching."
他昨天晚上开始牙疼。
Translation hint: 他 (tā - He) 昨天晚上 (zuótiān wǎnshang - yesterday evening) 开始 (kāishǐ - started) 牙疼 (yáténg - having a toothache).
This translates to: "He started having a toothache last night."
你牙疼吗？
Translation hint: 你 (nǐ - You) 牙疼 (yáténg - have a toothache) 吗 (ma - question particle).
This means: "Do you have a toothache?"
As you can see, 牙疼 acts like a verb itself. You don't need to say something like 我有牙疼 (wǒ yǒu yáténg), which would sound a bit unnatural. Just 我牙疼 is enough and correct. It's direct, exactly what you want when you're communicating a pain.
So, next time you need to talk about that familiar ache in your mouth, you've got the perfect phrase: 牙疼 (yáténg). Practice these examples, and you'll be able to use it confidently in no time!
Dato curioso
Many common ailments in Chinese are described with a body part followed by 疼 (téng) for pain, making them quite straightforward to understand once you know the basic body parts. For example, 头疼 (tóuténg) is 'headache', and 胃疼 (wèiténg) is 'stomach ache'.
Guía de pronunciación
- Mispronouncing the 'a' in 牙 (yá) as a short 'u' sound.
- Not emphasizing the tonal changes correctly, making it sound flat.
Ejemplos por nivel
我牙疼，要去医院。
I have a toothache, I need to go to the hospital.
他昨天牙疼了一晚上。
He had a toothache all last night.
你为什么牙疼？
Why do you have a toothache?
吃甜食会牙疼。
Eating sweets can cause toothache.
她牙疼得吃不下饭。
Her toothache is so bad she can't eat.
我的孩子牙疼了。
My child has a toothache.
他正在牙疼，所以不开心。
He is having a toothache, so he is not happy.
请问医生，牙疼怎么办？
Excuse me, doctor, what should I do if I have a toothache?
我昨天晚上牙疼得厉害，根本睡不着。
Last night I had such a bad toothache that I couldn't sleep at all.
你脸色看起来不太好，是不是牙疼了？
You don't look so good, do you have a toothache?
每次吃甜食，我的左边牙齿就会牙疼。
Every time I eat sweets, my left tooth aches.
他因为牙疼，不得不推迟了重要的会议。
He had to postpone an important meeting because of a toothache.
医生建议我，如果再牙疼，就得拔牙了。
The doctor advised me that if I have a toothache again, I'll have to get the tooth pulled.
小孩子牙疼通常是因为没有好好刷牙。
Children usually have toothaches because they don't brush their teeth properly.
我忍着牙疼上了一天的班，真是受不了。
I endured a toothache for a whole day at work, I really couldn't stand it.
她一直牙疼，所以情绪很不好。
She's been having a toothache, so she's in a bad mood.
Se confunde a menudo con
This means 'tooth' or 'teeth', the noun. 牙疼 is the condition of having a toothache.
Similar to 疼, also means 'pain' or 'ache', often interchangeable with 疼, but 疼 is more common in compound words for body aches like 牙疼.
This is a general term meaning 'to be sick' or 'to fall ill'. A toothache is a symptom of being sick, but not the general illness itself.
Fácil de confundir
Sounds similar to 牙疼 (yáténg) and describes another common body ache.
Refers specifically to a headache, not a toothache.
我今天有点儿头疼，可能是没睡好。(Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎnr tóuténg, kěnéng shì méi shuì hǎo.) - I have a bit of a headache today, probably because I didn't sleep well.
Another common physical pain, easy to mix up when quickly trying to recall vocabulary.
Means stomach ache, referring to pain in the abdomen.
他吃了太多冰淇淋，现在肚子疼。(Tā chī le tài duō bīngqílín, xiànzài dùziténg.) - He ate too much ice cream, and now he has a stomach ache.
Related to teeth, but refers to the person who treats teeth, not the pain itself.
This is the dentist, the professional who helps with toothaches.
我牙疼，需要去看牙医。(Wǒ yáténg, xūyào qù kàn yáyī.) - I have a toothache, I need to see a dentist.
Also related to teeth, but is an object used for cleaning, not a feeling.
This is a toothbrush, an item for oral hygiene.
每天早上和晚上都要用牙刷刷牙。(Měitiān zǎoshang hé wǎnshang dōu yào yòng yáshuā shuāyá.) - You should brush your teeth with a toothbrush every morning and evening.
This is the general word for 'pain' or 'ache', which is part of 牙疼, but not the specific condition.
疼 is the verb 'to hurt' or 'to ache', or the adjective 'painful'. 牙疼 specifies *where* the pain is.
我的腿很疼。(Wǒ de tuǐ hěn téng.) - My leg hurts a lot.
Consejos
Basic Structure of '牙疼'
The word 牙疼 (yá téng) literally combines 牙 (yá) meaning tooth and 疼 (téng) meaning to ache or to hurt. So, it's very straightforward: tooth ache.
Using '牙疼' in Sentences
You can use 牙疼 directly as a verb. For example, 我牙疼 (wǒ yá téng) means I have a toothache or My tooth hurts. No need for an extra verb like 'have'.
Asking About Toothache
To ask someone if they have a toothache, you can say: 你牙疼吗？ (nǐ yá téng ma?) which means Do you have a toothache?
Describing the Severity
To describe how much it hurts, you can add adverbs. For instance, 我牙很疼 (wǒ yá hěn téng) means My tooth really hurts. 很 (hěn) here emphasizes the pain.
Past Tense for '牙疼'
To talk about a toothache in the past, you can add 了 (le). For example, 昨天我牙疼了 (zuó tiān wǒ yá téng le) means Yesterday I had a toothache.
Related Vocabulary: Dentist
If you have a toothache, you might need a dentist. The word for dentist is 牙医 (yá yī), combining 牙 (yá - tooth) and 医 (yī - doctor).
Related Vocabulary: Go to the Dentist
To say you are going to the dentist, you can use: 我要去看牙医 (wǒ yào qù kàn yá yī), meaning I need to go see a dentist.
Common Phrases with '疼'
Remember that 疼 (téng) can be used for other aches too. For example, 头疼 (tóu téng) means headache, and 肚子疼 (dù zi téng) means stomach ache.
Don't confuse with '牙齿'
While 牙齿 (yá chǐ) also means tooth or teeth, you wouldn't say '牙齿疼'. You use 牙疼 directly to express the ache. 牙齿 refers to the physical tooth.
Practice Sentences
Try saying: 我现在牙疼，所以我不能吃糖 (wǒ xiàn zài yá téng, suǒ yǐ wǒ bù néng chī táng). This means I have a toothache now, so I can't eat candy. Practice makes perfect!
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Imagine a **ya**wning mouth with a **teng**ling pain inside. **Ya** (牙) sounds like 'yaw' in 'yawning', and **teng** (疼) sounds like 'teng' in 'tengling'. So, **ya-teng** (牙疼) means toothache.
Asociación visual
Picture a cartoon tooth character, bright white but with little red lightning bolts around it, indicating pain. The tooth has big, sad eyes and is holding its cheek. This visual links directly to the idea of 'toothache'.
Word Web
Desafío
Complete the sentence with the correct word: 昨天晚上我吃了很多糖，现在我______。 (Yesterday evening I ate a lot of candy, now I have a _______.) Answer: 牙疼 (yáténg)
Origen de la palabra
Composed of two characters: 牙 (yá) meaning 'tooth' and 疼 (téng) meaning 'pain'.
Significado original: The combination directly describes the sensation of pain originating from a tooth.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic branch (Chinese)Contexto cultural
In Chinese culture, traditional remedies for toothaches might include herbal teas or acupressure. While modern dentistry is widely available, folk remedies sometimes persist. It's common to express sympathy for someone with a toothache, as it's considered a particularly uncomfortable and disruptive type of pain.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYou would say 我牙疼 (wǒ yá téng). It literally translates to 'I toothache', which is how Chinese often expresses these kinds of bodily sensations.
牙疼 (yá téng) functions as a verb, meaning 'to have a toothache'. While 疼 (téng) on its own can be a verb 'to hurt' or an adjective 'painful', when combined with 牙 (yá - tooth), it becomes a verb phrase.
牙疼 (yá téng) specifically refers to 'having a toothache'. If your teeth hurt in a more general sense, like sensitivity, you might use different phrasing, but 牙疼 is for that specific pain.
You can ask 你牙疼吗？(Nǐ yá téng ma?). The 吗 (ma) particle turns it into a question. Or more directly, 你牙疼？(Nǐ yá téng?) if the context is clear.
While 牙疼 (yá téng) is the most common and direct way to say 'to have a toothache', you might hear 牙痛 (yá tòng) which is a more formal or written term for 'tooth pain'. For daily conversation, 牙疼 is your go-to.
Yes, absolutely. 牙疼 (yá téng) can refer to pain in one tooth or multiple teeth. It's a general term for having a toothache.
You can add adverbs like 很 (hěn - very) or 非常 (fēi cháng - extremely) before 牙疼. For example, 我牙疼得很 (wǒ yá téng de hěn) means 'My toothache is very bad'. You can also say 牙很疼 (yá hěn téng).
Both 疼 (téng) and 痛 (tòng) mean 'pain' or 'ache'. 疼 is generally more common in spoken language for everyday aches and pains, while 痛 can be more formal or refer to more severe pain, especially in medical contexts. For 'toothache', 牙疼 is the most natural for speaking.
You could say, 我牙疼，我需要去看牙医 (wǒ yá téng, wǒ xū yào qù kàn yá yī), which means 'I have a toothache, I need to see a dentist.'
Generally, 牙疼 (yá téng) is used for people. If an animal has a toothache, you'd typically describe their symptoms or say 'its teeth hurt' in a more general way, like 它的牙齿疼 (tā de yá chǐ téng).
Ponte a prueba 48 preguntas
我昨天吃了太多糖果，所以今天___了。
The sentence indicates that someone ate too many candies yesterday, which usually leads to a toothache. '牙疼' means toothache.
她不舒服，因为她___了。
The sentence states she is uncomfortable because she has a pain. '牙疼' is a common reason for discomfort.
医生说我需要去看牙医，因为我___了。
Doctors usually tell you to see a dentist when you have a toothache. '牙疼' means toothache.
我吃冰淇淋的时候感觉___。
Eating ice cream can sometimes cause a toothache, especially if you have sensitive teeth. '牙疼' means toothache.
他因为___不能吃饭。
A toothache often makes it difficult to eat. '牙疼' means toothache.
我需要预约牙医，因为我最近___。
If you have a toothache, you need to make an appointment with a dentist. '牙疼' means toothache.
Listen and understand: 'I have a toothache.'
Listen and understand: 'He has a toothache today.'
Listen and understand: 'Do you have a toothache?'
Read this aloud:
我牙疼。
Focus: yá téng
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你牙疼吗？
Focus: nǐ yá téng ma
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
她牙疼。
Focus: tā yá téng
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You wake up with a toothache. Describe how you feel and what you will do. (Use '牙疼'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天早上牙疼，感觉很不舒服。我需要去看牙医。
Your friend asks why you look sad. Explain that you have a toothache. (Use '牙疼'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天牙疼，所以看起来有点不开心。
Imagine you ate too much candy and now you have a toothache. Write a short sentence about it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我吃了太多糖果，现在牙疼。
小明为什么感觉不舒服？
Read this passage:
小明昨晚吃了很多冰淇淋。今天早上，他感觉很不舒服，因为他牙疼了。他告诉妈妈，妈妈说要带他去看牙医。
小明为什么感觉不舒服？
文章中提到“今天早上，他感觉很不舒服，因为他牙疼了。”这表明牙疼是小明不舒服的原因。
文章中提到“今天早上，他感觉很不舒服，因为他牙疼了。”这表明牙疼是小明不舒服的原因。
李丽为什么睡得不好？
Read this passage:
李丽昨天晚上睡得不好，因为她牙疼。她决定今天早上给牙医打电话预约。
李丽为什么睡得不好？
文章中明确指出“因为她牙疼”，所以这是她睡不好的原因。
文章中明确指出“因为她牙疼”，所以这是她睡不好的原因。
如果你牙疼，你应该怎么做？
Read this passage:
如果你牙疼，你应该尽快去看牙医。不要吃太多的甜食，这会加重你的牙疼。
如果你牙疼，你应该怎么做？
文章中建议“你应该尽快去看牙医”。
文章中建议“你应该尽快去看牙医”。
This sentence describes having a toothache all night yesterday. '我' (I) is the subject, '昨天' (yesterday) is the time, '牙疼' (had a toothache) is the verb, and '了一整晚' (all night long) indicates duration.
This sentence explains the cause and effect of a toothache. '他' (He) is the subject, '因为吃糖太多' (because he ate too much sugar) is the reason, '所以' (therefore) connects the cause to the effect, and '牙疼了' (had a toothache) is the result.
This sentence gives advice. '如果你牙疼' (If you have a toothache) is the condition, and '就应该去看牙医' (you should go see a dentist) is the suggestion.
The doctor advised him to see a dentist because his toothache was severe.
She complained that she had a toothache all night and couldn't sleep at all.
Eating too many sweets can easily cause a toothache, so eat less.
Read this aloud:
我昨天晚上牙疼得睡不着。
Focus: 牙疼 (yá téng)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你有没有过牙疼的经历？
Focus: 经历 (jīng lì)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果牙疼，最好尽快去看牙医。
Focus: 尽快 (jǐn kuài)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You wake up with a terrible toothache. Describe what you do to try and relieve the pain and what you decide to do next.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天早上醒来牙疼得很厉害。我先吃了一些止痛药，希望疼痛能减轻。但是药效不明显，所以我决定下午去看牙医。
Your friend complains about having a toothache. Write a short message advising them what to do.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
听说你牙疼，真替你担心。建议你多喝水，避免吃辛辣刺激的食物。最好尽快预约牙医检查一下。
Imagine you are at a pharmacy and need to describe your toothache to the pharmacist to get appropriate medication. What would you say?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
您好，我牙疼得很厉害，是左边的磨牙。感觉有点发炎，有什么止痛药可以推荐吗？
根据短文，小明为什么决定去看牙医？
Read this passage:
小明最近常常牙疼，但他一直拖着不去看牙医。他的朋友劝他，牙疼不是小事，拖久了可能会更严重。小明听了朋友的话，终于决定预约牙医。
根据短文，小明为什么决定去看牙医？
文章中提到“他的朋友劝他，牙疼不是小事，拖久了可能会更严重。小明听了朋友的话，终于决定预约牙医。”
文章中提到“他的朋友劝他，牙疼不是小事，拖久了可能会更严重。小明听了朋友的话，终于决定预约牙医。”
根据短文，牙疼不及时治疗可能导致什么后果？
Read this passage:
牙疼的常见原因包括蛀牙、牙周炎、智齿发炎等。如果不及时治疗，可能会导致感染扩散，甚至影响全身健康。因此，一旦出现牙疼，应及时就医。
根据短文，牙疼不及时治疗可能导致什么后果？
文章中明确指出“如果不及时治疗，可能会导致感染扩散，甚至影响全身健康。”
文章中明确指出“如果不及时治疗，可能会导致感染扩散，甚至影响全身健康。”
王女士的牙疼对她造成了什么影响？
Read this passage:
王女士最近因牙疼而失眠，这严重影响了她的日常生活和工作。医生建议她进行根管治疗，以彻底解决牙疼问题。虽然她有些害怕，但为了健康，她还是决定接受治疗。
王女士的牙疼对她造成了什么影响？
文章中提到“王女士最近因牙疼而失眠，这严重影响了她的日常生活和工作。”
文章中提到“王女士最近因牙疼而失眠，这严重影响了她的日常生活和工作。”
Listen for the reason he couldn't sleep.
Listen for the possible cause of the toothache.
Listen for what he did despite the toothache.
Read this aloud:
请问您牙疼有多久了？
Focus: 牙疼 (yá téng)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我最近吃甜食太多，所以牙疼了。
Focus: 甜食 (tián shí)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
牙疼的时候，最好不要吃冷热刺激性食物。
Focus: 刺激性 (cì jī xìng)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure emphasizes a strong contrast: despite severe toothache, she persevered with work. '尽管...，仍...' is a common pattern for 'although... still...'.
The phrase '突如其来的' means 'sudden' or 'unexpected', modifying '牙疼'. The verb '打乱' means 'to disrupt' or 'to upset'.
This sentence explains the cause of frequent toothaches. '长期的熬夜' means 'long-term staying up late', and '罪魁祸首' means 'the culprit'.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Structure of '牙疼'
The word 牙疼 (yá téng) literally combines 牙 (yá) meaning tooth and 疼 (téng) meaning to ache or to hurt. So, it's very straightforward: tooth ache.
Using '牙疼' in Sentences
You can use 牙疼 directly as a verb. For example, 我牙疼 (wǒ yá téng) means I have a toothache or My tooth hurts. No need for an extra verb like 'have'.
Asking About Toothache
To ask someone if they have a toothache, you can say: 你牙疼吗？ (nǐ yá téng ma?) which means Do you have a toothache?
Describing the Severity
To describe how much it hurts, you can add adverbs. For instance, 我牙很疼 (wǒ yá hěn téng) means My tooth really hurts. 很 (hěn) here emphasizes the pain.
Contenido relacionado
Esta palabra en otros idiomas
Frases relacionadas
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一粒
A2One pill; a grain (for small, round objects like pills).
一片
A2One tablet; a slice (for flat objects like pills).
不正常
A2abnormal
以上
A2Above, over (a number)
酸痛
A2Sore; aching (especially muscles).
倒是
A2On the contrary; actually.
针灸
A2Acupuncture; traditional Chinese therapy.
扎针
A2to give an injection
急性
B1acute (illness)
急性病
B1Acute disease.
