痛

The grammar is super easy. You just name the body part and add 痛. For example, 头痛 (head hurts) or 手痛 (hand hurts). You can also add 很 (hěn) to say it hurts a lot: 我很痛. If you want to ask someone if they are in pain, just add the question particle 吗. '你痛吗？' is the simplest way to check on a friend who just tripped over their own feet.

Use it whenever you need to express physical discomfort. Use it at the doctor's office to point out where the problem is. Use it with friends if you've spent too much time at the gym. It is perfect for texting a boss to explain why you are late. It is also great for those 'stubbed my toe' moments where words fail you. Even kids use this as one of their first descriptive words.

Don't use 痛 for emotional sadness unless you are being quite poetic. For a 'broken heart,' there are better words like 难过. Also, avoid using it for 'soreness' after a workout; use 酸 (suān) instead. If you just have a tiny itch, 痛 is too dramatic. Don't use it to describe a 'pain in the neck' person. That requires a different set of colorful slang expressions!

In Chinese culture, expressing pain is often quite direct. However, there is a traditional concept of 'eating bitterness' or enduring hardship. While people will tell you they are 痛, they might also try to stay tough. Interestingly, the character 痛 is also used in the word for 'deeply' or 'thoroughly,' like 痛快. This suggests that intense feelings, whether painful or joyful, are closely linked. It shows a very visceral connection to physical sensation in the language.

You will often hear 疼 (téng) instead of 痛. In Northern China, 疼 is much more common in daily speech. They are almost interchangeable, but 痛 feels slightly more formal or intense. You might also hear 心痛 (heartache), which can be physical or emotional. If something is extremely painful, people say 痛死了 (painful to death). It’s the ultimate way to complain about a migraine or a breakup!