zhǐtòng: 止痛 - To Relieve Pain, Analgesic

• Keywords: 止痛, zhitong, pain relief in Chinese, painkiller Chinese, stop pain Chinese, Chinese for headache medicine, analgesic in Chinese, 止痛药, zhitongyao, how to say painkiller in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 止痛 (zhǐtòng), which literally means “stop pain.” This guide explains how to use 止痛 to ask for pain relief or a painkiller (止痛药, zhǐtòngyào) at a pharmacy or doctor's office in China. Discover its cultural context, practical examples for headaches and other ailments, and related medical terms to communicate your needs effectively.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǐtòng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To stop or relieve pain; analgesic.
• In a Nutshell: 止痛 (zhǐtòng) is a direct and functional term that combines “to stop” (止) and “pain” (痛). It's the go-to word when you need to express the action of relieving pain or describe something that has a pain-relieving effect. Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of saying you need “pain relief” or an “analgesic.”

• 止 (zhǐ): This character means “to stop” or “to halt.” Its ancient form is a pictogram of a foot, representing the action of stopping one's steps. It's a simple, powerful character for cessation.
• 痛 (tòng): This character means “pain,” “ache,” or “sore.” It's composed of the “sickness radical” (疒), which is found in many characters related to illness and disease, and the phonetic component 甬 (yǒng).
• Combined Meaning: The logic is beautifully simple: 止 (stop) + 痛 (pain) = 止痛 (to stop pain).

The concept of “stopping pain” is universal, but the approach can reveal cultural differences. 止痛 (zhǐtòng) is a term that fits perfectly within the framework of Western medicine, which often focuses on directly treating symptoms. An over-the-counter painkiller like Aspirin or Ibuprofen is a classic example of a 止痛药 (zhǐtòngyào)—a medicine designed specifically to stop pain. However, in China, this modern approach coexists with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM, or 中医 - zhōngyī). While a Western doctor might prescribe a pill to achieve 止痛, a TCM practitioner might view pain as a symptom of a deeper imbalance, like a blockage of qi (气, vital energy). Their method for achieving pain relief might involve acupuncture (针灸, zhēnjiǔ) or herbal remedies aimed at restoring harmony in the body, rather than just masking the pain. For a learner, this means that while 止痛 is the correct word to use in any medical context, the method of achieving it can vary. In modern, everyday life in China, people readily use and ask for Western-style painkillers, so you can confidently use this term at any pharmacy (药店, yàodiàn).

止痛 (zhǐtòng) is a common and practical term used in medical and everyday situations.

• As a Verb: It describes the action of relieving pain.
  • “This medicine can quickly stop the pain.” (这个药能快速止痛。)
• As an Adjective: It modifies a noun, most commonly “medicine” (药) or “effect” (效果).
  • “I need to buy some painkillers.” (我需要买一些止痛药。)
  • “Does this acupuncture have a pain-relieving effect?” (这个针灸有止痛效果吗？)

It's a neutral term, neither overly formal nor informal, making it suitable for conversations with doctors, pharmacists, friends, and family.

• Example 1:
  • 我头太疼了，得吃片止痛药。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tóu tài téng le, děi chī piàn zhǐtòngyào.
  • English: My head hurts so much, I have to take a painkiller.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and natural way to express the need for a painkiller. Note that 止痛 is used here as an adjective for 药 (yào - medicine).
• Example 2:
  • 医生，您能给我开点什么药来止痛吗？
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng, nín néng gěi wǒ kāi diǎn shénme yào lái zhǐtòng ma?
  • English: Doctor, can you prescribe some medicine for me to relieve the pain?
  • Analysis: Here, 止痛 is used as a verb indicating the purpose of the medicine. This is a polite and clear way to ask a doctor for help.
• Example 3:
  • 拔牙之后，麻药的效果过去，就需要止痛了。
  • Pinyin: Báyá zhīhòu, máyào de xiàoguǒ guòqù, jiù xūyào zhǐtòng le.
  • English: After the tooth extraction, once the anesthetic wears off, you will need pain relief.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 止痛 as a verbal noun, meaning “the act of pain relief” or simply “pain relief.”
• Example 4:
  • 这种药膏有很好的止痛效果。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng yàogāo yǒu hěn hǎo de zhǐtòng xiàoguǒ.
  • English: This medicinal ointment has a very good pain-relieving effect.
  • Analysis: 止痛 modifies 效果 (xiàoguǒ - effect), a very common collocation.
• Example 5:
  • 你最好不要长期依赖止痛药。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuìhǎo búyào chángqī yīlài zhǐtòngyào.
  • English: You'd better not rely on painkillers long-term.
  • Analysis: This is a common piece of advice. 依赖 (yīlài) means “to rely on” or “depend on.”
• Example 6:
  • 除了吃药，热敷也是一种有效的止痛方法。
  • Pinyin: Chúle chīyào, rèfū yě shì yī zhǒng yǒuxiào de zhǐtòng fāngfǎ.
  • English: Besides taking medicine, applying a hot compress is also an effective method of pain relief.
  • Analysis: This shows how 止痛 can describe a method (方法, fāngfǎ), not just medicine.
• Example 7:
  • 运动员受伤后，队医立即对他进行了止痛处理。
  • Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán shòushāng hòu, duìyī lìjí duì tā jìnxíng le zhǐtòng chǔlǐ.
  • English: After the athlete was injured, the team doctor immediately administered pain-relief treatment.
  • Analysis: A more formal example. 进行…处理 (jìnxíng…chǔlǐ) means “to carry out…treatment.”
• Example 8:
  • 我牙痛得受不了，有没有速效止痛药？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yátòng de shòu bu liǎo, yǒu méiyǒu sùxiào zhǐtòngyào?
  • English: My toothache is unbearable, are there any fast-acting painkillers?
  • Analysis: 速效 (sùxiào) means “fast-acting,” a useful adjective to know when you're in a lot of pain.
• Example 9:
  • 这种止痛贴可以直接贴在疼痛的部位。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng zhǐtòngtiē kěyǐ zhíjiē tiē zài téngtòng de bùwèi.
  • English: This type of pain-relief patch can be applied directly to the painful area.
  • Analysis: Introduces a related product, 止痛贴 (zhǐtòngtiē), a pain-relief patch or plaster.
• Example 10:
  • 在服用任何止痛药之前，请仔细阅读说明书。
  • Pinyin: Zài fúyòng rènhé zhǐtòngyào zhīqián, qǐng zǐxì yuèdú shuōmíngshū.
  • English: Before taking any painkillers, please read the instructions carefully.
  • Analysis: A standard warning. 服用 (fúyòng) is a formal verb for “to take medicine.”

• 止痛 (zhǐtòng) vs. 缓解疼痛 (huǎnjiě téngtòng):
  • 止痛 (zhǐtòng) implies stopping pain. It's stronger and more definitive. It's what you want when you take a painkiller.
  • 缓解疼痛 (huǎnjiě téngtòng) means to alleviate or ease pain. It's a slightly softer, more gradual term. You might say a massage can 缓解 muscle pain, but you'd take a pill to 止痛. While often used interchangeably, 止痛 is more common for the direct action of medicine.
• Common Mistake: Simply saying “I need pain” (我需要痛, Wǒ xūyào tòng). This is incorrect and confusing. To express your need, you should say you need to stop the pain (我需要止痛, Wǒ xūyào zhǐtòng) or that you need pain-stopping medicine (我需要止痛药, Wǒ xūyào zhǐtòngyào).

• 止痛药 (zhǐtòngyào) - The most direct related term: “painkiller” or “analgesic medicine.”
• 缓解 (huǎnjiě) - To alleviate, ease, or relieve. A slightly softer synonym for the “relief” aspect.
• 疼痛 (téngtòng) - A more formal or medical noun for “pain” or “ache.”
• 头痛 (tóutòng) - Headache. A common ailment requiring 止痛.
• 牙痛 (yátòng) - Toothache. Another common reason for needing 止痛.
• 麻醉 (mázuì) - Anesthesia or to anesthetize. A much more powerful medical procedure to block all sensation, not just pain.
• 药店 (yàodiàn) - Pharmacy or drugstore. The place you go to buy 止痛药.
• 副作用 (fùzuòyòng) - Side effect. An important consideration when taking any medication.
• 中医 (zhōngyī) - Traditional Chinese Medicine. Provides a different philosophical and practical approach to managing pain.
• 病假 (bìngjià) - Sick leave. If the pain is bad enough, you might need to ask for this from work.